i io RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



rock, was the only break in all the smooth face of sand- 

 stone around. There was no other tree within many yards. 

 Ever since its chance seed germinated in that minute niche 

 had it grown towards the fulfilment of a noble mission, 

 and behold to-day the realisation thereof! 



Flourish there, little lonely tree ! Swing in naught but 

 caressing breezes from thy sun-kissed root-hold ; and 

 would that they might all be moisture-laden ! Increase 

 and multiply thy grateful spreading boughs ! But this is 

 not thy destiny for 'tis only an obscure little stunted 

 jungle bush called Bhiria, whose name I would set big on 

 a scroll of honour. 



Remembering now that the bear had seized me, and that 

 I seemed to have no right leg at all when I crawled back 

 to safety, I glanced down. . . . 



It should be noted that absolutely no sense of pain had 

 accompanied my late adventure. It was therefore with a 

 kind of humorous incredulity that I stared at what met 

 my astounded gaze the thin shooting breeches hanging in 

 gory tatters round a limb that was soaked in blood from 

 groin to ankle ! 



Off came the breeches, and the marvel only grew. 

 One two three four great holes in my leg my own 

 good right leg ! It seemed incredible. I wiped away what 

 obscured the wounds, and felt their gaping edges with at 

 first gentle, then bolder fingers. I gauged their depth with 

 probing fingers, lifting up in my curiosity a flap of tunnelled 

 muscles ; and still no pain of any kind ! which seemed 

 extraordinary, the injuries being such as would call up 

 feelings of sickening apprehension if viewed inflicted on 

 another person. I uncorked my water-bottle of clean boiled 

 water, and directed its stream from some height into the 

 ragged apertures ; examined them again, cleaned them 

 out, and bound the leg round with a pocket-handkerchief 

 and strips of pagri cloth and I never felt fitter in all 

 my life ! 



