PAKHAL NADDI OF THE PALM TREES 129 



passes down those aisles o'er-arching 

 Pakhal Naddi of the palm trees. 



Where a little knoll uprising, 

 bush-encumbered, palm-frond studded, 

 gives a view towards the westward 

 westward to the Chandrabhaga 

 shingly-bedded Chandrabhaga 

 lurk the hunters, hidden almost, 

 flashing spear-tip, hidden almost ; 

 hidden quite the Arab, Waler, 

 ears a-twitch and bits a-champing, 

 waiting grace of Pakhal Naddi. 



Hark ! The distant throb of drumming ! 

 (tighten chin-strap, grasp the spear-haft) 

 anxious watch yon covert, prickly 

 covertside of prickly Pakhal. 



See him there ! our brother-hunter 

 Rufus of the scanty top-knot, 

 cunning rider, rider leary 

 keeping fairly near the exit, 

 easing gee-gee, lest it weary, 

 slipped off earthward from the saddle, 

 stands dismounted by his gee-gee. 



See him ! watch him ! wily Rufus 

 gathers up his reins so artless ; 

 artless Rufus, so nonchalant, 

 places casual foot in stirrup ! 

 Where's he broken ? Rufus leary, 

 foxy brother awfully wily 

 we know what your little game is 

 going to tell us when you're mounted ! 

 Grins he, unabashed, the culprit, 

 grins a grin, and points a lance-tip. 



" There they go ! " the motley sounder, 

 lean sow lobbing, young boar trotting, 

 snouts set straight for Chandrabhaga 

 shingly, bushy Chandrabhaga ! 

 And behind them, breaking covert, 

 bursting from the prickly covert, 

 looms a shape ! Ribs sudden thumping, 

 K 



