298 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



jungle-fowl scratching up the ground, or a snake 

 gliding amongst the leaves," 



" It might have been the latter," I replied, " but 

 jungle-fowl are all gone to roost by this time, and I 

 have often heard a tiger or a panther steal along 

 with as little noise." 



For a time an intense quiet reigned, not a leaf 

 stirred, and no sound was heard but the dull mono- 

 tonous roar of falling waters, or the plaintive cry of 

 a stray plover in search of his companions. The 

 sun had been gone down some time, and the moon, 

 which was then at the full, had not risen sufficiently 

 high for her silvery light to penetrate the deep 

 ravine in which we were. 



Both B 's patience and his cheroot were well- 

 nigh exhausted, and as I saw he could hardly keep 

 himself awake, I bade both him and Chineah sleep 

 whilst Googooloo and myself kept the first watch. 

 We remained for nearly a couple of hours listening 

 anxiously to every sound that issued from the jungle, 

 and although during this time we distinctly heard 

 the growling of a bear just below us, and could dis- 

 tinguish in the gloom the dark forms of a sounder 

 of hog wallowing in the pool, still there was not 

 sufficient light to take aim, and I did not pull 

 trigger. At last the moon appeared over the 

 scarped crest of the mountain, sailing in a cloudless 

 sky — a flood of light glistened like silver on the 

 lake, and caused every object to be seen as distinctly 

 as at noon-day. 



