A TREE-TO-TREE GUIDE. Oo 



spot where the samber was concealed, and disem- 

 bowel the game, Norman transferred his rifles to 

 another ; but before he left them, he heard 

 Manajee declare, in reply to one of his fellow 

 villagers, that the Sahib was a mighty hunter ; and 

 that he Manajee to wit " was the best shikaree 

 in those parts, an unerring puggee, and a tree-to- 

 tree guide through the country." He reached the 

 ramp a little before dark, about the same time as 

 Hawkes. The latter had been also successful, 

 having killed a samber hind, missed another, and 

 also a Neilgye. 



It was quite dark before Mackenzie came in ; 

 and late though he had tarried, he returned empty- 

 handed. 



" What sport, Mac V was the inquiry which 

 saluted him as he arrived. 



A hoarse sound, between a growl and a chuckle, 

 was the only answer vouchsafed until he had taken 

 a long pull at some brandy-and-water, with which 

 his experienced servant met him on his dismount- 

 ing from, his horse. Thus invigorated, he spoke. 

 " Confounded luck ! Blown myself till I couldn't 

 speak ; half sprained my ancle ; turned myself into 

 a regular wet sponge ; and all for nothing." Un- 

 satisfactory as this might reasonably be deemed to 

 Mackenzie, it appeared to be fraught with some- 



