AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK. 87 



him over with a shot. With a low growl, instead 

 of a roar, this time, however, he again recovered 

 himself, and slipped back into the denser part of 

 the cover. 



" Did you hit him ? " asked Norman of Hawkes, 

 who, though so near, was invisible. 



" Yes, he came right under my tree. He seems 

 awfully done. Can you make anything of his 

 whereabouts ? " 



" No, I can't get a sight of but oh ! confound 

 it ! Ah ! Hoo ! Chugh ! help here, you gun- 

 fellow." 



" Why, what are you up to, Norman ? " demanded 

 Hawkes, anxiously. " Is the tiger trying to get at 

 you?" 



" No, no. Botheration ! Oh Lord ! how they nip ! 

 I have been sitting in a red-ant's nest, or on their 

 public highway, or some other favourite resort. Oh ! 

 the vindictive little wretches. They are all over 

 me." 



From sundiy shippings and flappings, Hawkcs 

 rightly conjectured that Norman and his attendant 

 were endeavouring to overcome the onslaught of the 

 ants. But as they were brushed off in one part, 

 they seemed to swarm to the attack in another. In 

 the very midst of his exertions to shake oft* his 

 tormenters, Norman's eye fell on the break in the 



