2/0 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



the hillside ; one or two of them took flight and skimmed 

 heavily away. Then a dark object appeared in the grass 

 far below a hyaena, no doubt, returning from his noctur- 

 nal rambles. Dropping my cigarette, I raised the binocu- 

 lars, and put them right on to the spotted back of a 

 panther as he disappeared in some bushes ! 



Half an hour later I was seated expectantly on a rock, 

 rifle in hand ; but in spite of the very limited extent of 

 covert our little "beat" produced no panther. 



Again and again every nook of that isolated patch was 

 explored, but all to no purpose ; the brute must have 

 found some holt unknown to us or to the local villagers. 

 He had not gone far, however, for a goat which was left 

 there as a bait was killed and eaten during the ensuing 

 night. Once more we searched for him, but again without 

 success. 



Next night I occupied a cunningly hidden machdn, 

 while a fresh bait bleated persuasively close by ; but 

 although the panther's fresh tracks showed us that he con- 

 tinued to haunt the hill, my efforts were unavailing. 



It was at this juncture that I remembered the long- 

 forgotten chest. 



I had promised myself, with an amused smile, that its 

 mystic powers should be tested at the earliest oppor- 

 tunity, and this chance was now presented. True, it was 

 only a panther on which I should experiment, but the 

 lesser feline might prove as susceptible to the strange 

 influences said to emanate from Jhapoo as had been his 

 great congener. The tally of the five khandis was, I under- 

 stood, nearing completion, and should the extraordinary 

 hints thrown out by old Mulligatawny possess any founda- 

 tion, I fancied that I might look for relief of my responsi- 

 bilities in some uncanny climax, when the patient inmate 

 of the copper-bound casket, his vow fulfilled, would be 

 haled away to his own particular and G6ndian realms 

 of everlasting bliss by a cachinnating cohort of nimble 



