A DOUBTFUL BEAT. 101 



" Then you do not propose beating any more ? " 

 asked Mackenzie. 



" No, Sahib. It will only be bothering the Sahibs 

 for nothing. The tigers have not come well down 

 from the hills yet. The season has not been hot 

 enough, and the water is not dried up there." 



"Then don't you expect to find any more at 

 present about the rivers down here in the plains ? " 



" No, Sahib," replied Rugonauth. " In a few days 

 more, with this heat, they will seek the rivers. 

 Those we have killed, and others which come about, 

 have wandered a great deal. If it suits the Sahibs, 

 they might try the hills for a few days, and then 

 come back here." 



" But where do you propose going 1 " inquired 

 Norman. 



" I met a man yesterday," was the reply, " who 

 told me that right amongst the hills, near the 

 village of Oonge, from which he had come, several 

 cattle had been killed by tigers, and it is a good 

 country for bears. If your honour orders, I will 

 go and see what truth there is in the report. I sent 

 off a man yesterday to make inquiries." 



" I should certainly like a good beat among those 

 ravines in the first range before we leave Mungauni, 

 Mac. Don't you think so ? " asked Nornian, in 

 English, of his friend. 



