of the tame animals, or might fail to cast the nets over those of the
wild ones; in which case they ran the risk of being gored by the latter
turning on them.

The first two men succeeded in throwing their net over one of the stags;
its tame opponent, at a signal which it understood, springing back at
the proper moment, when the men, dragging with all their might, brought
their captive to the ground.

The next two men were not so fortunate. The wild stag, seeing what was
taking place, wheeled suddenly round, and catching sight of its
treacherous foes, rushed at them, with its antlers as sharp as lance
points, and literally pinned one of them to the ground, his companion
narrowly escaping his fate; then, fleet as the wind, off scampered the
deer, and was far away before a shot could be fired at it. Before the
hunters could reach the poor man who had been overthrown, he had
breathed his last; his death, however, exciting no more sympathy than if
a dog had been killed.

Four more deer were eventually captured and dragged off by the huntsmen,
their limbs and heads completely enveloped in the nets. Then the hunt
for the day being over, the party encamped, tents having been brought
from Allahapoor for their convenience; and the next day they returned to
the city.

"And how did you enjoy the sport?" asked the rajah, when Reginald and
his friend again had the honour of an audience.

"Very well indeed," was the answer.

"Then I will enable you to have some more," said the rajah. "I intend
to lead an expedition that will shortly set out from hence. It will
afford you better sport, for we shall have two-footed instead of
four-footed beasts to contend with. Some hill tribes to the north have
dared to come down and plunder and kill my people in the plain, and they
must be punished at all hazards. I shall be glad of your advice and
assistance, for you Englishmen take naturally to fighting, whether you
have been bred to it or not."

Reginald and Burnett thanked the rajah for the compliment he had paid
them, but gave no promise. However, they discussed the subject
afterwards in their own room, Dick Thuddichum being present.

"I think it will be wise to go," observed Captain Burnett. "We shall
thus have an opportunity of becoming better acquainted with the rajah,
and ingratiating ourselves, than we can here; and you will thus, on our
return, more easily obtain the secret the rajah possesses."

"Dick, are you incline