44 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



The next morning, after having distributed some 

 rupees, and what remained of our stock of rice, 

 etc., to the Mulchers, we set out, following the 

 course of the river, until we arrived at the village 

 of Gujelhulli, where I halted for four days, when, 

 finding that Wedderburn did not make his appear- 

 ance, and feeling convinced by repeated search 

 that there were no elephants in that part of the 

 jungle, I retraced my steps homeward, making 

 a two days' march to Metripolliam, where I 



fell in with C , a young sub who was 



coming up to the Hills on division leave from 

 Trichinopoly. 



It was a lovely evening when we rode into 

 Ootacamund, accompanied by all my people, and 

 although I had only been absent so short a time, 

 I felt quite glad to be back again. To me the 

 vernal Hills never appeared so refreshing and 

 strikingly beautiful as when returning from the 

 reeking plains below ; and although long years 

 have passed since that day, I can now mentally 

 behold the scene, for on every side, as far as the 

 eye could reach, the harmonious combination of 



