TEAK AND BAMBOO 101 



with a rush, and her jaws closed like a vice on my belly ; 

 then, as I frantically plunged through some bamboos, she 

 was torn away and flung off, the blood pouring from the 

 red gash. 



On I clattered over the boulders, among which there 

 now began to trickle a thin muddy stream, and turning 

 a bend, the fresh smell of rain-soaked earth struck my 

 nostrils, as, carrying on its breath a distant peal of 

 thunder, the first wild rush of the monsoon struck the 

 groaning forest. 



Large drops of rain met me as I laboured at a wearying 

 gallop up the deep-cut ravine and at length sighted the 

 refuge I had sought a deep pool under a little ledge 

 of basalt, over which now poured an ever-thickening stream 

 of red, earth-stained water. 



Into this I plunged, and turned in time to meet the 

 leader of the pack, whom I struck under the water, my 

 sharp forefoot cutting deep into his entrails. The rest 

 surrounded me in an instant, finding their tongues for the 

 first time and bursting into a chorus of savage, whining 

 yelps. Twice was I borne down, madly striking right and 

 left with antlers and feet, and twice I rose again, my cruel 

 tormentors literally covering my bleeding form. The 

 deepening, swirling pool was churned into yellow foam, 

 the sharp snouts of the dogs showing here and there as 

 they swam ashore and whined from the rocks, leaping out 

 again to seize or be struck under. 



At last down came the spate with a booming roar ; and 

 we were all caught up and hurled headlong downstream. 

 My foes were swept away like corks, and I, with difficulty 

 feeling ground, breasted the raging torrent an instant, and 

 then dragged my harried body up the bank. 



Yes, they were all gone, save a few that had followed 

 down the opposite bank. Yet what was this ? The drowned 

 and battered carcase of one of them yet hung from my 

 chest, his bared fangs closed in the grip of death ! Shaking 



