The Man-eater of Belkhera. 63 



in which I had placed a couple of cartridges loaded with 

 slugs. This night-sight consisted of an ordinary visiting 

 card, into the end of which a V-shaped cut had been 

 made. When this card has been fastened to the top rib of 

 one's gun by a couple of rubber rings, the bottom of the 

 V fitted against the barleycorn, or foresight, and the 

 ear-like flaps raised, I know of few better aids to accurate 

 shooting by night, provided there is some glimmer of light. 

 Aim is taken by getting the object between the flaps of 

 the white card V. 



My orderly and I got into our greatcoats and rugs for 

 it was to be a cold night and settled into the semblance 

 of two stone figures. 



When the last faint flush following sunset had died 

 away, the jungle grew very dark and intensely quiet. A 

 few stars showed themselves over the head of the hill that 

 reared up blackly into the vault of the sky far above us. 

 Down in the valley behind night-birds called at rare 

 intervals. In the machdn however all was still. Not a 

 sound came from the hillsides. 



About half an hour after this a distant rustle was heard 

 up-hill. Then it stopped. A few minutes later Abbas 

 Khan touched my foot. Some heavy animal was coming 

 quite boldly down the hillside. Then came a faint deep 

 breath close under the tree in which we were sitting ! My 

 heart thumped heavily. I opened my mouth to breathe 

 less noisily. 



There was something moving stealthily near the foot of 

 our tree ; but only the faintest of sounds came when a stone 

 turned slowly. We were right between the animal and the 

 spot where the corpse lay bound to its sapling. Would it 

 pass under us and give me a chance on the patch of bran ? 

 Hours seemed to pass ! 



