A BONNIE BAG. 43 



where, in the now failing light (for in the East 

 there is no twilight, and darkness comes almost 

 with a bound after sunset) I could not see two 

 yards in front of me. Fortunately for me, if c Mr. 

 Stripes ' was near me and I expect he was not 

 far off he did not make his presence known, 

 for I could not see anything of him. 



Sending for my friend, I hastily had a couple 

 of charpoys, or native bedsteads, lashed into trees 

 near the dead cow for I found the poor brute had 

 expired on my return and awaited his advent 

 with impatience. He soon returned, in a great 

 state of excitement, and then we posted ourselves, 

 having previously tossed for first shot, which he won. 

 We waited for nearly an hour and a half, and the 

 moon was well up, but there was no sign of the 

 tiger's return. Feeling very unwell, I suppose 

 from the combined excitement of the day and the 

 exposure to a hot sun in the morning, and know- 

 ing I was only to play second fiddle, I gave up, 

 and returned to camp and bed. 



Next morning, on awakening, my first inter- 

 rogation to my friend was as to his success. He 

 did not meet my inquiry in the cheerful spirit I 

 had hoped ; in fact, he seemed decidedly crest- 

 fallen, and this was what he said, 



'Confound that fellow Peter' (our shikari) 

 c It was all his fault. You had not been gone 



