JUNGLE STRATAGEMS 53 



there waiting. Every few minutes the yell was 

 repeated, and it seemed to be getting closer and 

 closer. At last, however, in spite of it, I fell asleep, 

 exhausted. 



I was awakened in the morning by the cook 

 bringing my breakfast and the jingling of the ankle 

 bells of a mail-runner, who was passing the house 

 on his fifteen-mile run. After I had finished eating, 

 the cook returned with the native who had been 

 hired to guard us. The native salaamed and spoke 

 to the boy, who acted as interpreter. 



"What is he saying?" I asked the boy. 



"He says that he is the head watchman and he 

 wants to know if you slept well with him watching 

 over you." The yells that had kept me up most of 

 the night were the "All's well" of the watchmen. 

 Much to the amazement of the cook and the guard 

 who had come to inquire after my night's rest, I 

 burst out laughing. I laughed so hard that I sat 

 down on the floor and put my head against my knees 

 I howled. 



The guard was given a few rupees and told to 

 keep his watchmen farther away from the house 

 the next night. To this day, when I think of myself 

 sitting up all night, dead tired and fighting off 

 mosquitoes, while my guards became imaginary 

 thieves about to attack me, I laugh. 



The headman of the village arrived with several 

 natives and I went with them to inspect the tigers 

 two beautifully marked animals. I closed the bar- 



