282 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



will ; and the instant the man stopped his chant, every one 

 of the animals fled, as if the spell were broken. The Maha- 

 raja was delighted, and Hermiron Singh promptly engaged 

 the man on his staff of shikaris. 



News of a panther came in the evening, and Mr. J 



went off to lie in wait for it. A goat was tied up near his 

 hiding-place, and he is to wait all night on the chance of 

 getting a shot. 



February ith. — Mr. J came back at daybreak with- 

 out the panther. He gave us a most amusing description of 

 his adventures. The shikari cannot speak English, and Mr. 



J does not know a word of Hindustani, and whenever 



he tried to gain a little information all his attempts were 

 met by the shikari placing a finger on his lips, in token of 

 silence. He was not allowed to move or stir for fear of 

 frightening the panther, and was placed kneeling to watch 

 through a hole in the screen. Before long he got cramp in 

 his leg, and sat down to rub it. He was quickly stopped by 

 his companion's contemptuous glance. It was bitterly cold, 

 and he turned round for a coat, but was cowed by the look 

 he got. Twice, thinking the shikari dozing, he attempted to 

 crawl towards a blanket, and was each time checked by an 

 imperative gesture. He had a flask, but did not dare to 

 open it ; smoking was of course quite out of the question. 

 And when, about an hour later later, after several ineffectual 

 attempts to smother it, he gave a loud sneeze, the shikari 



