CHAPTER XV 



BACK IN THE JUNGLES AGAIN 



Back from furlough — The jungles again — The great grass jungle at the 

 end of the rains — The animal inhabitants — Insect life — On foot in 

 the grass — A moonlight ramble on an elephant — An early morning 

 start — A fishing expedition — Forest spiders — Sambhar, hogdeer, 

 and pig — Chital — A tiger episode in the Dun — Sitting up on a tiger 

 "run" — Jungle denizens in the evening — Hear a tiger — The tiger 

 approaches — Anxious moments — Fire at the tiger — The tiger drops 

 — Gets up and disappears — Return to camp — The Raja Sahib — ■ 

 Appears next morning — Go in search of tiger — Death of tiger — The 

 Dehra Dun Fishing Club — Glorious days — Disappearance of game in 

 the Dun — Closure and game protection needed. 



THOSE of us who have fallen under the glamour 

 of the jungles of India will understand the 

 feeling with which I left the Station one afternoon 

 in late September for the high-grass jungles and 

 the glorious rivers of the United Province Terai. 



Well over a year and a half had elapsed since I had last 

 seen them. It was in February of the previous year that 

 I left the beautiful Dun and the Mussoorie Hills, a transfer 

 taking me to Calcutta. After nearly a year in the City of 

 Palaces, I applied for furlough and had a spell of leave at 

 home. I rejoined at Dehra early in September and a few 

 days' holiday occurring towards the end of the month saw 

 me eagerly setting out for the jungles accompanied by a 

 friend. We had two elephants and I had a modified 

 cordite -500 Holland and Holland rifle and a new gun, both 

 of which I was thirsting to try. We arrived soon after 

 four o'clock at a small bungalow in the heart of the forest 

 and never shall I forget the thrill with which I sniffed again 

 the odours of the great jungles. 



The rains were over and we could count on fine weather. 

 Already there was a touch of the glorious winter cold in the 

 early morning and evening air, and for the midday heat we 



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