104 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



by the hunters. To Mac's lot it fell to occupy 

 the side of a nullah, over which, and a portion 

 of the bare hill-side it seamed, he had full com- 

 mand. The other two were stationed together on 

 the side of a slope, towards a hollow in which con- 

 verged several wild-beast tracks, after intersecting 

 the jungle in various directions. The slope was 

 covered with disconnected patches of jungle, but 

 just in their front, and between them and the main 

 thicket, stretched an open space of some fifteen 

 yards in breadth. This they covered, ensconcing 

 themselves behind a bush to conceal themselves 

 from any beast breaking across it. 



""Well," said Norman, in a whisper, "if they 

 break here, we ought to give a good account of 

 them. But it looks doubtful, with so much jungle 

 about the sides of the hills ; I have great faith in 

 old Manajee, though. He seems to know both the 

 haunts and the habits of the game well, and if his 

 bundobust (a term implying the arrangements for 

 the beat, and all the provisional preparations con- 

 nected with it) is good, we may have the luck to 

 get our friends here." 



" I am sure, I hope so," was the reply in the same 

 low tone of voice. " I long to get a shot at a bear. 

 It would be glorious to bag both. There's the 

 grease, too.' 



