90 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



alert to catch the slightest glimpse or the smallest 

 sound. 



" He's lame, Sahib," whispered Kugonauth, after a 

 few yards. " His right leg is going lame." 



After a little, the open passage through the jungle 

 somewhat widened, it being one evidently used by 

 animals to conduct them to the drinking-place, and 

 also for the purpose of enabling them to avoid the 

 intricacies of the cover when moving from one place 

 to another. Large boulders of rock here and there 

 rose above the low brushwood, and the path in 

 many places wound among and around them. 



Two or three men, who were following in the 

 wake for that purpose, climbed into trees, which the 

 hunters passed, to obtain a look-out over the jungle 

 in the front and flanks of the still advancing party, 

 and give warning of any movement they might 

 observe. As each boulder was reached too, before 

 being rounded, the leaders, with fingers on trigger, 

 carefully examined the other side to see that no 

 enemy lay there in ambush. 



Presently glimpses of the water were obtained 

 through the bushes, and Hawkes managed to take 

 his place in the front rank, though with some diffi- 

 culty, the branches of jungle having frequently to 

 be thrust aside to enable him to remain there. 

 Moving thus compactly in line, they reached the 



