84 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



their way clown to this spot to drink, and were 

 engaged in chasing and diving after a couple of 

 saucy-looking little dab-chicks or lesser grebe, 

 when suddenly I heard Ponto give tongue, fol- 

 lowed by an unmistakable whine, which told me 

 that we were not alone in the glen, separated even 

 as it appeared to be from the rest of the world. 

 From his attitude, as he stood snuffing the air with 

 his fore paw raised, his head lifted, his lips apart, 

 showing his teeth, and now and then giving a 

 low growl, I knew by experience that some of the 

 feline race were in close proximity, and made my 

 preparations accordingly ; bidding Chineah fasten 

 up the Poligars in their slips, and give them in 

 charge of one of the Phaidee coolies, whilst he kept 

 near me with the second gun, for I only happened to 

 have two out with me that day. A small hill-dog, 

 belonging to one of my people, kept running back- 

 wards and forwards about twenty paces in front, 

 in spite of our endeavours to keep him back,- to 

 Ponto's great annoyance, as he and I were making 

 casts about the place in search of the trail. A 

 very few turns served to satisfy us both on this 



