ABSTRACT
SOME days after my arrival, a Turk, by name Meho Didic, was produced, who was said to be knowledgeable in the ways of the game. From subsequent experience, however, I fear he was an old fraud. He said he could take me to good ground for the beagles, both for chamois and roe-deer. Now, at that time I had no opinion at all of chamoisshooting over dogs, though I am now prepared to· admit that it is a form of sport which, like so many others, grows upon one. Anyhow, I put myself in his hands, and on the appointed morning started off. Although I have spoken of the little hounds as " beagles," they are really part of Mr. Allgood's unentered draft-harriers with a foxhound cross, standing about sixteen inches, and just the thing for this country. Our way lay back along the road we had come from Lakat till we reached the spring I mentioned, when we struck a forest path, which ended in forest without any path, till finally we emerged on a ridge covered with scanty pines. Here my Turk placed me, and went on to draw back to me. Soon, however, I
made out with the glass one lot of cattle and another of sheep on the rocky slopes opposite to me-no chance of chamois here. Sure enough, the old man returned to inform me that the game was higher up. " But," said he, " it's a splendid place when there is snow;" but as the chamois season ends here with October, * this was no help to me. We then climbed a ridge behind us, and my guide pointed out a big, strong covert as a good place for roe. "Then we'll draw it," said 1. "But you'll not be able to see anything." " Quite so ; that is why I am going to stay up here, whilst you go in with the hounds." Whether he drew it conscientiously, I can't say; but as I got near the lower end of my ridge the hounds went away with a hare at the bottom, and ran her over the opposite hill-a pretty clear proof that they had drawn close, as any hounds will find a roe much more easily than a hare.
