THE "KHUBBEK." U3 



as it dawned upon them that news was late in 

 coming. 



But just as they began to consider it really 

 becoming a serious matter, a party of three or four 

 men, striding rapidly along, made their appearance ; 

 not from the direction of the cover up the river as 

 expected, but by a road which led across the open 

 ground. Breaking into a trot as they approached, 

 probably on seeing that they were observed by the 

 Sahibs, the men were soon salaaming low before 

 them. 



In reply to the hunters' interrogatories, they 

 stated that Rugonauth had marked down a tiger, 

 " and has sent us to call your quick, Sahib people/' 

 they added. 



" Is it in the Mungaum jungle \ " asked Mac- 

 kenzie. 



"No, Sahib. There were no fresh pugs there 

 this morning. Two or three days have gone since 

 any tiger has couched there. This tiger is seated 

 in the Loonee river, near a Bheel village, about five 

 miles off. Rugonauth says we are to bring lots of 

 fireworks." 



The ponies were already being saddled, and the 

 party was soon in motion, with men carrying their 

 guns, leather choguls of water, and a packet of fire- 

 works. Nor, though the riders moved at a jog-trot, 



