A FATAL SNEEZE. 283 



pointed to the blankets, drew them back, and made signs to 

 his victim to lie down ; which he did very gladly. No 

 sooner had he done so than a thickly-doubled blanket was 

 thrown over his head, and muffled any further sounds. Mr. 



J remembered no more until he awoke, to find it broad 



daylight, the shikari sitting in the same immovable attitude, 

 and the goat still bleating outside. 



Since he returned, footprints of the panther were found 

 close to the goat ; and the shikari, being interrogated, said 

 sadly, " Yes, the panther was very near, but the sahib had a 

 bad cold." 



February 5th. — Just beyond our camp the hills open 

 and form a wide cultivated valley, some two miles broad 

 and perhaps five or six long. The fields are covered with 

 marks where wild boars have been grubbing for roots. But 

 they return to the hills as soon as it gets light, and during 

 the daytime we never came across one. Alan was anxious 

 to try if they could be found before sunrise, so about three 

 o'clock this morning he started off with Yar Singh and two 

 or three sowars. They spread out, and rode quietly along 

 the -valley ; but the dhal fields were so high that although 

 there was a bright moon it was difficult to see far. At 

 length one of the sowars made out a sounder of hogs in the 

 distance, on their way back to the hills. They all raced in 

 pursuit, and gained on them sufficiently to distinguish three 

 huge boars, besides several sows and smaller pigs. Just as 



