36 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



Then it was that my gaze fell on one tiny, solitary tree 

 less than a sapling that clung to the cliffside. And I 

 thought of bears no more, seized with a silent amazement 

 at that miraculous escape ! 



That little branch, no thicker than a man's ankle, but of 

 wondrous toughness, rooted in some mere chink in the rock, 

 was the only break in all the smooth face of sandstone 

 around. There was no other tree within many yards ! 

 Ever since its chance seed germinated in that minute niche 

 had it grown towards the fulfilment of a noble mission ; 

 and behold to-day the realization thereof ! 



Flourish there, little lonely tree ! Swing in naught but 

 caressing breezes from thy sun-kissed root-hold ; and would 

 that they might all be moisture-laden ! Increase and 

 multiply thy grateful spreading boughs! But this is not thy 

 destiny for 'tis only an obscure little jungle plant called 

 " Bhiria* whose name I would set big on a scroll of honour. 



Remembering now that the bear had seized me, and 

 that I seemed to have no right leg at all when I crawled 



back to safety, I glanced down. 



* * * * 



It should be noted that absolutely no sense of pain had ac- 

 companied my late adventure. It was therefore with a kind of 

 humourous incredulity that I stared at what met my astonish- 

 ed gaze the thin shooting breeches hanging in gory 

 tatters round a limb that was soaked in blood from groin to 

 ankle ! 



Off came the breeches, and the marvel only grew. One, 

 two, three, four great holes in my leg my own good 

 right leg! It seemed incredible. I wiped away what 

 obscured the wounds, and felt their gaping edges with 

 at first gentle then bolder fingers. I gauged their 

 depth with probing fingers, lifting up in my curiosity a 



