112 THE EASTEBN HUNTERS. 



" Eh ! how 's that ? You don't mean to sa} 

 any natives have brought in bears of their own 

 killing?" 



" No," answered Norman ; " but my horsekeeper 

 spoke of ' tiger leg-mutton.' Why shouldn't we 

 have tiger bear's-grease also ? " 



" Oh, you villain ! " shouted the huge fellow, in 

 great merriment. " You don't really mean to say 

 you intend palming it off ? " 



"Don't I, though?" was the reply. "If old 

 Mrs. Jenkins doesn't apply some tiger-fat to her old 

 scalp, it won't be my fault. I hope she won't come 

 out in stripes." 



" It would be a most gratifying thing if she did, 

 I think ; for then she would have to make a clean 

 shave, and take to wigs, which would be a decided 

 improvement on her exceedingly scanty coiffure" 



" Well, well ! Let the poor old lady do as she 

 likes," observed Norman, compassionately. " Only 

 mind, neither of you fellows destroy her innocent 

 belief in the efficacy of the oleaginous compound 

 with which I shall present her. After all, it exists 

 in the imagination. That will do just as much as a 

 plaster of bear-fat on her head. But what are we 

 to do now 1 ? Here comes Manajee. Let's hear 

 what he has to say." 



Manajee joined them, and, after being compli- 



