CHAPTER II 



ROADS THROUGH THE FOREST 



The five great stars forming the shoulders and belt of 

 Orion, with the sloping line of little stars representing 

 the sword, shone in the blue-black heavens with a bril- 

 liancy seldom seen except in the clear atmosphere of the 

 hills in the time of what is commonly called the cold 

 season. A i2-foot-by-i2 ' sholdarry ' tent, pitched on a 

 terrace on the slope of the hillside facing the south, with 

 a pleasant fire of glowing logs just opposite its open door, 

 looked like a forest home of the most agreeable kind. 

 The cloudless starlit sky and still atmosphere, windless 

 and not cold, made it quite delightful to sit under the 

 canopy of heaven just outside the tent door, with the 

 light of a lamp behind and the warmth of the wood fire 

 in front. The remains of an excellently cooked dinner, 

 consisting of pheasant or curried fowl, were cleared away 

 by a native servant with snow-white puggaree and neat 

 winter serge livery. The favourite spaniels, Ruby and 

 Flora, lay under the table, well inside the tent, keeping one 

 eye open to watch in case the prowling leopard might 

 come too near, knowing well that one spring and blow 

 of its cat-like paw would make short work of poor doggie. 

 The stillness was only relieved by the musical sounds 

 of the distant stream, whose murmuring seemed to rise 

 and fall on the ear. The faint noise of many waters came 



