52 THE EASTEEN HUNTEES. 



around ; thus affording to the hunter opportunities 

 of stalking them. 



Our party had with them a small selection of 

 books, some, anything but light reading. Many a 

 man can trace to the long unemployed hours of the 

 day, the knowledge of authors who, in all pro- 

 bability, would otherwise have remained unread. 

 An Indian up-country station was not always, in 

 former days, particularly well supplied with books, 

 or at any rate, offered no extensive choice ; so that 

 what might be deemed heavy literature, not un- 

 frequently formed a portion of the hunter's equip- 

 ment. As space was limited also, the burden of a 

 large number of books was not to be thought of ; 

 something which would last was usually sought in 

 preference to novels, only to be galloped through 

 and thrown aside. 



A little before the hour I have named, the three 

 friends had flung down whatever had occupied them, 

 and stood prepared for the evening's sport. 



To reach the hunting ground, they had to cross 

 the river, and traverse the belt of jungle which in- 

 tervened between it and the hills. 



Separating at the camp itself, each took a direc- 

 tion, so as to strike the hills at spots about a mile 

 apart, with the view of interfering as little as might 

 be, one with the other. 



