jungle By-Ways in India 



trail, every moment expecting to come upon 

 the bison or to receive a charge on our flank. 

 For a long way the tracks were easy to follow. 

 Then the blood began to grow scarcer ; but even 

 then Bishu maintained that the bison was badly 

 hit, and that we should get him all right. And so 

 on, till the shadows lengthened, the sun dropped 

 behind a neighbouring hill-crest, the west flamed 

 red and orange, pale yellow and green, and then 

 turned to grey, and we were in the dark. In the 

 dark, miles away from camp, and with but a scant 

 idea of the distance we were separated from it ! 

 My feelings will not admit of description at this 

 termination of my second view of bison. Not 

 for one moment during the afternoon had a thought 

 of faltering entered my head. I felt as certain 

 that I should get that bison as one is of picking 

 up a rabbit one has knocked over in the fallow at 

 home. And this was the end ! As soon as it was 

 evident to me even that we should have to give 

 it up, I handed over the rifle to Bishu, and ,from 

 keen alertness my muscles relaxed and I felt 

 dog-tired. 



That tramp back ! It remains in my memory 

 as a terrible nightmare. On and on and on I 

 stumbled after the shikaris. Often they lost 

 their way or appeared to be doubtful of it. 

 Through ravines, over stony hills, through bamboo 

 brakes and scrub jungle we blundered along, 

 and it was nearly 3 a.m. before we reached the 



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