SINGED WHISKERS. 93 



young sportsman. " What is bad about them ? 

 They look very nice on the skin." 



" I do it, Sahib, to prevent any one getting hold 

 of them. Much mischief might be the consequence. 

 He might haunt us. Any one, too, getting possession 

 of these hairs might commit Jado (sorcery) on his 

 enemy, or mix them with his food and poison 

 him." 



" Bewitch him ! Poison him. ! " Hawkes ex- 

 claimed. " What, are the hairs poisonous ? " 



" Well, Sahib, I do not know that they are alto- 

 gether like poison ; but if chopped up and given 

 with the food, they would have an evil influence. 

 So I take good care no one shall cut them off for 

 his own use. There now, you old rascal," he added, 

 addressing the dead tiger, " now you can do no 

 harm." 



" Is it only the whiskers from which harm comes?" 

 asked Hawkes. 



" It is all that is hurtful," was the reply. " But 

 the claws are capital charms, and some other parts 

 are very good for rheumatism." 



" He speaks the words of truth," observed Sheik 

 Hussein, who had been an attentive and gratih'ed 

 listener to the foregoing conversation. " The Sahibs 

 have had great luck. May it ever be great ! I 

 shall be much rejoiced if the Sahibs will allow me 



