94 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



who vainly rattle empty kerosene tins, or pull an ingenious 

 arrangement of wooden clappers all night or through the 

 forest in search of fallen fruits. And so, feeding all night, 

 we drink at some pool before daylight, and at sunrise 

 are well on our way to our baitak, or " form." Personally 

 I like a good mud-bath, after which I scrape the caked 

 mire off my sides against some handy tree, or shake myself 

 like a dog ; then, culling a toothsome morsel here and 

 there as I slowly wander up the damp bed of the stream, 

 the first rays of the sun tempt me to loiter in their gentle 

 warmth, till awakened nature reminds me that the night is 

 past, and I mount the familiar hillside, to settle down in 

 my favourite couch overlooking the valley, by the pollard 

 teak tree or, if it be summer, under the bamboos higher up. 



If it is seldom that you see me, you must blame your 

 eyesight ; and remember that on our hills to move is to be 

 seen, to stand motionless is to hide, and that of this our 

 race is well aware. " To see without being seen " is the 

 motto for our jungles, and I have often stared right in 

 your face, your eyes all but meeting mine, as you passed 

 on, noting in wonder the numerous traces of my horns and 

 hoofs. 



The memory of my first big fight? Ah, it seems as 

 yesterday ! 



I had been away from my khdra the previous day, 

 having wandered some distance during the preceding night. 

 I remember when night fell, and the evening glow gave 

 place to a moonlight almost as bright, I descended the 

 sheering mountain-side, and, winding down a tremendous 

 open grassy spur that sunk swiftly to the hazy depths of 

 Jamgarh below, paused ere entering the path of teak 

 scrub, half-way down, with its heavy heads of thick green 

 leaves for the season was early November. 



Hark ! A faint roar rose from the glen ! I stood listen- 

 ing with tense nerves, and then recognised a rival's voice. 

 Indignant, I hastened my descent. 



