78 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



"'A shikari?' 



*' Sahib!' with another inclination of the head in 

 assent 



" ' Do you ever sit up at night here for game ? ' 



" He lifted his head, as he squatted at my side, and 

 looked me keenly in the eye; then 



" * It is my bread, sahib, and I have many children. 

 There is much game in this jungle sdmbar, rohis, chital; 

 much game ! ' And he sighed. ' But I do not often sit 

 now, sahib, not here ! But when I have to sit, sahib, when 

 times are hard, / never sleep', and he gave me another 

 queer look. 



" ' But what do / know, sahib ? Your honour is a rajah 

 and I a poor man. But it may be that now I may sit and 

 sleep too in peace ! ' 



"This was all I could get out of the old man, so I 

 returned to my breakfast. But, as I went, I murmured to 

 myself, 'There are more things in heaven and earth, my 

 boy, than are dreamt of in your philosophy/ " 



