38 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



The older men used to say, confound them, that it was as 

 good as a play that walk up the hill. Perhaps it was to 

 them ! 



Arrived at the first machan the party halted, and the 

 process of allotting machans for this the most important 

 beat of the day was proceeded with. On such occasions 

 and in such company this was a most anxious moment for 

 the youngsters, and my rueful face gave rise to uproarious 

 mirth, in which the girls merrily joined, when I was allotted 

 the machan we were standing before. By no means could 

 a lady be put in it. 



' You will keep a good look out, S.," said the senior 

 male member of the party. " Don't go to sleep, and 

 don't let your thoughts go wool-gathering to the other 

 machans." 



Another shout of laughter and the order to move on was 

 given. 



I watched the party halt before the next machan. 

 Hurrah ! Young T. was left behind and his attitude of 

 dejection relieved a part of my gloom. This was all I saw 

 of the party till the end of the beat 

 and I climbed into my machan. I had 

 one man with me, and we took up our 

 positions so that I commanded all the 

 likely places. 



A long wait now ensued. The sun 

 rose higher and higher and the very 

 trees themselves took on a listless air, 

 the leaves appearing to droop. The only 

 signs of life I could see were two black 

 crows, who sat in a neighbouring tree 

 and cursed at me at intervals; there 

 were also lizards and insects. The heat 

 bothered neither, especially the flies ! 



Suddenly I heard a very faint halloo, 

 and as it always does it braced me up 

 at once. The beat had begun. I sat 

 motionless. The chaff and pinpricks of 

 the morning were forgotten now, in the keen desire to dis- 

 tinguish oneself if the opportunity arose. This beat took the 

 best part of two hours to put through, and at times one lost 

 sound of the voices when the men dropped into a ravine. At 

 others they swelled in volume when they were endeavouring 



