4 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



Even the presence of aboriginal man seems but to add 

 to the sense of contented peacefulness, the soft " rub-a-dub, 

 rub-a-dub " of a tom-tom proclaiming the Korkus awake in 

 their rude hamlet, beyond which the sleeping hills slope 

 down to the narrow valley. 



In the distance a glow of little fires shows some of our 

 men occupied with their evening meal, and a murmur of 

 voices behind the camp discloses others, who are engaged 

 in rubbing wood-ashes into a certain broad peg-stretched 

 skin. 



Yes ! It has been a lucky day, and the first tiger is 

 already bagged. Happy thought that prompted the placing 

 of an extra " stop " at the very spot which he should choose 

 to break out of the beat, and a fatal pause that which he 

 made, right under our tree ! A shy, game-killing beast of 

 the denser jungles, what long, weary ways his tracks had 

 led us that hot day, until we " ringed " him, at home, so far 

 from his " kill " of the previous night ! 



And so he is slain over again. Anticipation, realisation, 

 fond recollection ; threefold charm of these forest scenes ; 

 pleasures that will be ours long after the jungle knows us 

 no more ! 



The white sheets look invitingly cool in the moonlight ; 

 and the cheroot can be finished there. 



" Call me at five o'clock, Abdul ! " 



How delicious to stretch one's pleasantly fatigued limbs 

 on the smooth linen, and gaze up at the thought-bringing 

 stars, while dreams of the morrow's sport trail gentle sleep 

 in their train. 



So the East doth call to us who are her foster-children. 



