OF THE OLD WOULD. 295 



fowl took up the cry on every side, and the wood 

 resounded with the voices of wild animals. Chineah 

 and Googooloo smiled grimly at each other as they 

 caught up each cry, and named the animal that it 

 came from, and each gave me a significant look as I 

 proceeded to put fresh caps on my pet rifle, which I 

 Viad previously carefully loaded. 



" Yon forest music goes cheerily, Hal, and does 

 one more good than all the sol-fa-ing we have lately 

 heard at Ooty," whispered B , 



" Yes, Ned, it strikes upon the heart of a ranger 

 of the woods like an old well-loved strain upon a 

 wanderer's ears ; but I imagine that we shall have a 

 view of the performers before morning, as the ]\Iul- 

 cliers say there is no other water about here nearer 

 than the Bowani, and it is evident from the pugs we 

 saw on the sand that they frequent this place." 



Just at this moment we heard a movement in the 

 bushes, and an old gray monkey, evidently a scout, 

 came creeping cautiously into the plain. After 

 peering about a few moments in a very inquisitive 

 manner, seeing all appeared clear, he turned towards 

 the woods, uttering a sharp cry, and immediately a 

 whole troop of his followers came leaping and swing- 

 ing themselves from the trees, screaming, chattering, 

 fighting, and making grimaces at each other, as they 

 rushed frantically to the water's edge to quench their 

 thirst. Then, after gambolling about for a little 

 time, and picking up a few berries, they again dis- 

 appeared in the woods. Towards dusk two jungle- 



