294 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



and waders, may be seen on high, soaring away in 

 the direction of their feeding- grounds. 



At this early hour there is generally a cool breeze, 

 and the morning air is fresh and bracing ; but very 

 shortly the whole of the eastern horizon glows with 

 ruddy lustre, and the sun bursts forth in a blaze of 

 living light, and seems to travel on his way in the 

 heavens with much more rajiidity than in northern 

 climes. This is the moment for the lover of the 

 beautiful to see the forest, for the dew-drops on the 

 leaves and ground sparkle like brilliants, and at no 

 other time are the varied colours of the verdure so 

 vivid. The lights and shade show to the best ad- 

 vantage, and a peculiarly harmonious charm reigns 

 over the whole face of nature, which must strike 

 upon the heart even of the most apathetic spirit, and 

 make him feel, with the great poet, that 



" There is a pleasure ia the pathless woods." 



But I am digressing, and must return to our am- 

 buscade, where we were lying at our ease, whilst 

 Chineah and Googooloo kept watch. Numbers of 

 pea-fowl, jungle-fowl, and spur-fowl came to drink 

 from time to time, and their wild cries were heard 

 on every side of the deeply-wooded valley. Pre- 

 sently we heard the low bark of a buck-elk calling 

 to his hinds, and as the sun was sinking below the 

 horizon the roar of a tiger awoke the echoes of the 

 surrounding hills, and was immediately answered by 

 another, at no great distance from the lake. Pea- 



