52 THE IMAGE OF WAE 



and carrying a heavy rifle, it is small wonder the 

 perspiration was pouring off me long before I reached 

 the top. At last I did so, however, and sat down 

 behind the last crest to make my final preparations 

 and get my wind. 



In a few minutes I pushed my rifle on to the slab 

 rocks which formed a spur and crawled after it myself. 

 Another minute and I was peering into the upper 

 part of the glen. Nothing to be seen. I crawled 

 farther with the same result. At last I got right 

 out on the point of the rock nearest the plain. Still 

 nothing visible, but raising my eyes I saw the shikari 

 gesticulating violently. Evidently he had disobeyed 

 my instructions and moved the herd. I stood up 

 now and whistled, but with no result. So I climbed 

 down and walked to the valley where the beasts had 

 been. I had no doubt whatever in my mind as to 

 the cause of their absence. Curiosity or sheer " cuss- 

 edness" had caused the shikari to shift his position, 

 and by so doing had given them his wind. Once on 

 their legs it is possible they may have looked over 

 into the next gorge and seen my innocent self toiling 

 up. Anyhow they left the hills and entered the big 

 jungle. 



My first proceeding was to distribute well-earned 

 abuse between the two '* haughty Kajpoots " who had 

 spoilt my stalk. I then proceeded to inquire as to 

 the route the herd had taken. This is all I could 

 ascertain, as of course no one knew exactly where 

 they had gone to. 



The first two beats failed to move them, but in 

 the third one, or rather after it, some wood-cutters 

 reported they had seen the herd making off" towards 

 the west. I followed them up, crossing the high-road 



