Round the Camp Fire. 181 



Out of the saddle sharp, and pluck the little rifle from 

 its bucket. Then quickly down behind that long grass. As 

 we raise our heads cautiously behind this little tree, the 

 dogs can be seen boldly regarding us. 



Bang ! over rolls one ; and they turn and hasten off. 

 Bang ! again ; and another twists sidewise into the 

 jungle, where he is soon found and disposed of. 



In the distance the survivors can be heard as they move 

 off, uttering their strange almost bird-like call " Phew ? 

 Phew ! " a call that is remarkably similar to that of the 

 chital hind when she seeks her wandered fawn. 



On another occasion I was prowling the jungles border- 

 ing the Si'pna river one morning in late February. Rain 

 had fallen the previous night, and as I entered a beautiful 

 sequestered glen running at right angles to the main 

 valley, my attention Was attracted by a number of vultures 

 sailing towards a point half a mile away ; whence also 

 came the raucous cawing of crows. Making my way through 

 the now sodden and silent leaves what a change from the 

 crackling and rustling of other days! and the long drip- 

 ping grass, which exhaled a pleasant herb-like scent, I at 

 length arrived at and peered over a little knoll. Below 

 me lay a little open clearing by the rocky bed of the stream ; 

 a tiny cascade fell into the head of a cool green pool ; and 

 on the flat rocks around it lay a pack of wild dogs. 



I wriggled a little nearer, and watched this interesting 

 group from a distance of about thirty yards. Half sunk in 

 the water reddened by his blood lay the carcase of a young 

 sambar, while his murderers reposed in various easy 

 attitudes around. A couple of them, not yet fully gorged, 

 tugged at a leg projecting above the water, and every now 

 and then made a furious charge, leaping and snapping, 

 among a crowd of expectant vultures. Bits of flesh lay here 



