ATTACKED IN FRONT AND RKAK. 



3 8i 



the Aisatic jungle, he was not surprised to find his self-confidence considerably 

 lessened. His experience in South Africa had taught him that the most skillful 

 hunter is always in peril, and that that sportsman is unwise who, however well 

 armed, ventures far into a wild country without companions. 



It was because of his previous experience and the 

 fact that he held a good knowledge of the perils of 

 the hunt in East India, that he did not extend his 

 wanderings far. He saw innumerable birds, some 

 with brilliantly-beautiful plumage, including parrots, 

 paroquets, cockatoos, macaws. He caught a glimpse 

 of a panther, and descried a serpent a dozen feet in 

 length, coiled around a limb above his head. The 

 reptile seemed to be watching him with such an 

 attentive expression, that he made a circuit that car- 

 ried him out of sight of it. Returning to camp as 

 the day was drawing to a close, Dick joined his 

 friends at the evening meal, consisting of some 

 well-cooked goat's meat and fruit. 



Now, you need not be reminded that no 

 company of men would dare lie down in a 

 jungle with the purpose of sleeping through 

 the night without any guard. 

 While the fire of itself always 

 serves as a wall against the too 

 near approach of the fierce creat- 

 ures that throng those dense 

 forests, yet, as the hours pass, 

 the flames smoulder, until, long 

 before morning, nothing more 

 than a few embers are left, for 

 which no wild animal would 

 care a straw. 



Since many of the denizens 

 about which I am telling you 

 are nocturnal in their habits, 

 a most tempting opportunity 

 would present itself to them, THE COCKATOO 



too tempting indeed for any pru- 

 dent person to take the risk. Besides, the horses are also exposed to the same 

 peril and are too valuable to the hunters to be lost in that way. 



" I have had a good deal of sleep this afternoon," said Mr. Godkin, "and will 

 act as sentinel until midnight, when, if you choose, you may take my place." 



"That will suit me," replied Dick, " for I had a good long sleep last night, and 



