A PETITION FOR A GUN 



However, as the man, whoever he might be, was evidently 

 quite harmless, Jackson took no further action, but 

 cautioning him to be careful about fires, walked on to the 

 rest house. 



The next morning, to his surprise, this mysterious being 

 appeared at the bungalow asking for employment, and 

 Jackson, somewhat interested in the man, appointed him 

 as one of the temporary wood cutters in the forest, A 

 week or two went by, during which time he was often to 

 be seen like some unquiet spirit prowling round the camp, 

 speaking to no one and seldom replying when addressed, 

 and then only by a word or two in a strange inhuman 

 voice. 



At length one evening, as Jackson was sitting smoking 

 on the verandah, he saw the man approaching, but with 

 some hesitation as if uncertain of the reception he would 

 meet with. Presently he came up and, making a low 

 " salaam," produced a dirty scrap of paper which he laid at 

 Jackson's feet. 



" What is this ? " inquired the latter sharply, annoyed 

 at being disturbed after his hard day's work. 



" A petition for a gun and ammunition, sahib, to 

 protect his poor servant from the wild beasts," replied the 

 man in his strange voice, shifting his weight from one leg 

 to the other, as is the way with native rustics when address- 

 ing Europeans. 



Had he asked permission to set fire to the forest the 

 request could hardly have created greater consternation. 

 " A gun ! " exclaimed the annoyed and horrified official, as 

 visions of deer and other animals, slaughtered indis- 

 criminately, rose before his mind. " Why, don't you 

 know, no one is permitted to use firearms in the forest ? " 



" Yes, sahib, your slave is aware that such is the order 

 of the c Sirkar ' (Government), but here the ' Huzoor ' 

 (master) is a law unto himself, and will surely grant the 

 prayer of his petitioner, whose life is threatened by these 

 beasts ! " 



" Nonsense," replied the incensed official, on whom 

 this special pleading failed to take effect. " You cannot 

 have a gun, and if I ever hear that you have used one in 

 the forest I shall cancel your permit to reside in it.'' 



115 



