04 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



our object is attained, or all chance of finding him 

 is over ; when we will finish the day by a general 

 beat, bagging everything," 



"Yes," said W , "you are perfectly right; 



there must be no firing at deer or hog. That is the 

 only way of doing the thing so as not to lose a chance ; 

 but, as it is now getting late, let us go back to the 

 village, caution the police authorities again about the 

 beaters, mount our nags, and be in time for the 

 Doctor's catering — for, between ourselves, I am 

 powerfully peckish, ' By the piper that played 

 before Moses,' it is worth while going out shekar, 

 were it only for the appetite it creates, and the relish 

 it gives one for beer." 



On arrival at the village, we arranged all matters 

 with regard to the number of beaters required. The 

 ameldar, or head man of the viDage, sent to all the 

 neighbouring hamlets to collect men ; the gang esta- 

 blished themselves for the night in a choultry or 

 caravanserai, after having begged some coin from us 

 to buy sheep and fowls on the plea of sacrifices being 

 necessary to certain " Sawmies " (Hindoo deities) to 

 ensure good luck on the morrow ; and mounting our 

 horses amid the " Salams," " Mashallahs," and 

 " Inshallahs " of the villagers, we rode back to camp 

 — the scene we had that day witnessed, our hopes of 

 the morrow, and sundry hazardous speculations as 

 to the doctor's success with the begum, forming the 

 chief topics of our conversation en route. 



We arrived in camp just before sunset, and were 



