I was glad that I was not batu.
But where was Ajor? Though my eyes searched the wide landscape
before me, I saw nothing other than the warriors of Du-seen and
the beasts of the fields and the forests. Surrounded by forests,
I could see wide plains dotting the country as far as the eye could
reach; but nowhere was a sign of a small Galu she--the beloved she
whom I would have given my right hand to see.
Nobs and I were hungry; we had not eaten since the preceding night,
and below us was game-deer, sheep, anything that a hungry hunter
might crave; so down the steep trail we made our way, and then
upon my belly with Nobs crouching low behind me, I crawled toward a
small herd of red deer feeding at the edge of a plain close beside
a forest. There was ample cover, what with solitary trees and
dotting bushes so that I found no difficulty in stalking up wind
to within fifty feet of my quarry--a large, sleek doe unaccompanied
by a fawn. Greatly then did I regret my rifle. Never in my life
had I shot an arrow, but I knew how it was done, and fitting the
shaft to my string, I aimed carefully and let drive. At the same
instant I called to Nobs and leaped to me feet.
The arrow caught the doe full in the side, and in the same moment
Nobs was after her. She turned to flee with the two of us pursuing
her, Nobs with his great fangs bared and I with my short spear
poised for a cast.
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