176 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



the buffer spring of a locomotive was scarcely calculated 

 to allay my trouble which continued. 



My despairing gaze fell on the open rifle-case. An old 

 spare "cocking- piece," with its long spiral striker-spring, 

 lay therein. Now spiral springs can be cut with a sharp 

 screw-driver sometimes ; they are also capable of uniting two 

 given points nearly as well as a V-shaped spring. Melted 

 alum will firmly unite separate pieces of metal, especially 

 if aided by a " frapping " of common or garden thread. 



I stole a glance, drooping my left eyelid slightly the 

 while, at my household troll. He was dejectedly springing, 

 squirrel-like, round the bole of a tree. 



Half an hour later my scantily-clothed companion 

 protruded a red and astounded countenance through the 

 flap of his tent, and as the Lee-Metford bolt clicked 

 merrily a second time, and I " snapped " the repaired lock 

 again and again in my glee, a faint howl from the 

 tamarind leaves intimated the complete rout of a dis- 

 comfited elf. Strange to relate, the rifle so repaired gave 

 perfect satisfaction during the remainder of that trip, 

 accounting for bears, panthers, and tigers. 



To return to the jungles of Pipalda. 



Crossing the fallow ground beyond the village, we 

 passed the burnt strip of the "fire-line," and entered the 

 reserve by a rough cart-track, along which we moved for 

 some distance in soft, cotton-soled silence. 



After a while we became aware of movement in the 

 grass and bushes alongside, and came to a halt. An 

 excursion through the yellow grass disclosed a huge 

 sounder of hogs. Of all sizes were they, from heavy 

 boars to squeakers, wandering and rustling gently home- 

 wards towards the deeper jungle, their line stretching at 

 least a hundred and fifty yards in extent. After watching 

 one splendid old boar, with the prism binoculars, which 

 brought his formidable head almost within touching dis- 

 tance, we gently withdrew and regained the track. 



