120 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



The Mungaum beaters were left where they 

 were, as the strange villager assured them that his 

 " gaum " could supply enough for the occasion. 



But the whole affair appeared to be a " plant," for 

 the sake of extracting from the pockets of the hunters 

 a few rupees. At least, it was very evident the men 

 who professed to have seen the tiger, knew veiy little 

 about the beast ; and Norman declared the pug, 

 when shown to him, was two or three days old. It 

 was probably hoped the tiger might be found, and 

 thus the handsome "Inam" (reward) find its way 

 to the head man of the village, while the beaters 

 received the usual daily pay. 



But after beating one or two places in vain, 

 Mackenzie, with much profanity of language, spoke 

 his mind freely to the leader of the beat. He in- 

 formed him he was fortunate in having so placable 

 a person to deal with, otherwise he would certainly 

 not have escaped, after so great an imposition, in 

 a sound skin. The beaters were probably in the 

 secret ; but as they could hardly be considered 

 much to blame in obeying the summons of their 

 village chief, each received a half-day's pay, very 

 much to their delight ; for, after seeing that the 

 Sahib people had not been imposed on, they looked 

 for more kicks than halfpence. 



The sportsmen were much chagrined to find, on 



