392 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



one Phagoo shikdri although they cried with oaths that there is no 

 tiger here nor gave we any kind of news and then I remained 

 resting in their house and so after giving warnings I relented. 



Further when I was returned with lateness next morning to 



B 1 heard afar off a sound of gun twice in jungle nor were 



there any men left in that village of B on this my heart 



became fluid for I knew from this reason that there was beating 



and hunting of tigers. Further the saheb had killed one 



tiger owing to the astuteness of that Mussalman and the Mussal- 

 man spoke sweet words with me saying see Jhoot Singh I have 

 told my master that thou art a very good man and very clever on 

 account of giving good news so he will surely give great reward 

 but the younger Jat sepoy was then laughing very much not all at 

 once restraining his behaviour but saying afterwards by a pretence 

 and quickly how it was a big tamdsha this tiger hunting and all 

 the villagers climbing on trees but I knew that real reason of his 

 laughter but by concealing my anger and making such sweet 

 words and flatteries did I make all matters smooth and so even 



that Mussalman was becoming a little unsuspicious. Further 



and it is the petition of this slave that this foolishness be this 

 will it in future not be thus to-day nine May the signature 

 of Jhoot Singh chaprasi. 



(3) The appreciator of worth, the kind, etc., etc. 



Be it known to the kind Khan Saheb brave one that this slave 

 had received tidings that there had been a robbery in that his 

 other house of which your honour perhaps knows that it lives in 



the village of K and there is much jewellery remaining gone 



so I had gone there to make inquiry into that matter and had 

 left Govinda forest guard to do my work in my place during my 

 absence but Govinda is an exceedingly great fool and by reason 

 of that word the saheb killed another tiger but I immediately caused 

 to be written letters to all police stations and forest posts that our 

 Dipti Saheb he is coming this side to hunt tigers and that on 

 account of giving any help to this other saheb all people will 

 receive much loss and beatings and trouble to their houses. 



Further it is the petition of this poor one that he may be 



forgiven also that for his stomach there is not enough pay there- 



