4 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SHIKAR 



the road at that point. So we drove on some distance 

 over bare fields. Then he pulled up and said, as 

 well as I could understand, that he had lost his way 

 and could go no farther. He talked Marathi, and 

 I knew only a word or two of that language, but I 

 made him understand that he was to go to the 

 shikari's village. 



There was no village to be seen and he did not know 

 even in which direction it was : besides, the ponies 

 had done enough. 



By this time the sun had set, out got the driver, 

 unharnessed his ponies and said he was going to 

 find them water. Of course they must have a drink 

 after that long hot march, so I told him to go, thinking 

 he and his ponies would be back soon. But he never 

 did come back, that is, not until the next morning. 



I sat and waited for some time, then darkness 

 came on, and beautiful stars shone out, but there 

 was no moon. 



I ate some sandwiches and drank some claret, 

 which was very soothing ! and when that was over, 

 I thought it seemed a pity my night's rest should be 

 spoiled by any tonga wala, so took the cushions 

 out of the cart, put my guns under my head so that 

 they should not be stolen, and soon was fast asleep. 



In the middle of the night I was awakened by 

 a bright light shining in my eyes, and three men were 

 standing round me with a lantern. It was the pat el 

 of the village for which I was bound, and his servants. 

 He said he had heard that I was there and came to 

 see that I was all right, as there was a party of dacoits 

 on the other side of some small hills near, and I had 



