282 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



hemming it round were responsible for an uncomfortable 

 sense of confinement, and an opening in the jungle let 

 in but a narrow patch of moonlight, which illuminated the 

 stiffened figure of the paralysed goat and disclosed the 

 mysterious movements of our noiseless nocturnal visitor. 



What might or might not have happened it is impossible 

 to say. The panther had turned, and was apparently about 

 to walk slowly round the foot of the tree in that extra- 

 ordinary manner he had now assumed, when a scoffing and 

 rebellious mood took possession of me. This was all hum- 

 bug; and, what was more, it was preposterous that I should 

 be expected to remain a spectator of the imbecile vagaries 

 of a brute that had given me the slip before. Rising 

 cautiously, I leant over ; the dark sinuous back was pass- 

 ing a few feet below. There was an instant's pause ; then 

 a flash ; and a roaring echo smote outwards from the cliff. 

 A round tail beat the ground convulsively for a few 

 moments; straightened out slowly and quiveringly to its 

 black tip ; and presently all was quiet. 



Sounding my whistle, I awaited the return of the men, 

 who, bringing help with them, shortly took up the limp 

 carcase, loosed the goat, and we reached camp again not 

 long after nine o'clock. 



It was not until I was dropping off to sleep that night 

 that I recollected the fact that I had left the chest open for 

 the night in the jungle. It had not indeed been my inten- 

 tion to remove it from its present site, since I had a vague 

 idea of getting rid of it by one or other of the plans 

 already hinted at ; but that the lid should have been left 

 unfastened and raised had not been part of my programme. 

 Yet I felt almost certain that the character of the contents 

 would deter any meddling on the part of persons who 

 might be aware of its present whereabouts. I closed my 

 eyes, my thoughts full of the extraordinary demeanour 

 of the wild beast that I had lately slain its mysterious 

 movements and the ignoring at such close quarters of a 



