OP THE OLD WOKLD, fil 



suddenly I fancied I heard a slight noise. I halted 

 the gang, and whispered, or rather made signs to 

 them, to lie quiet, for we were almost on our hands 

 and knees, and laid my ear to the ground to listen. 

 We distinctly heard grating sounds, like the gnaw- 

 ing of bones, accompanied by low snarls and growls. 

 I noticed Chineah's eyes sparkling with excitement, 

 as he lay listening to the ominous noises ; and the 

 convulsive grabs he made at the few bristles which 

 adorned the point of his chin told me what was 

 passing in his mind. Not a word was spoken, 

 though I saw the eyes of the gang were following 

 my movements. 



I examined the nipples of my rifle to see that the 

 powder was well up, and making signs to Chineah 

 with my spare gun, and Mac, who was next me, to 

 follow, I cautioned the others to be perfectly quiet, 

 until they heard a shot, and stole gently forward 

 on my hands and knees, moving with the greatest 

 caution, and stopping every now and again to re- 

 connoitre. 



We made our way with great difficulty through 

 the dense underwood for about a hundred yards, the 

 noise becoming plainer and more distinct as we ad- 

 vanced, until at last we emerged into an open glade, 

 with a large black rock on one side, surrounded with 

 jungle. 



Here, looking cautiously around, I found the noise 

 proceeded from two jackals, who were munching and 

 tearing the flesh from some half-stripped human 



