130 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



Manajee was there gratified with a liberal reward, 

 and the beaters were paid, and, with the exception 

 of those required to carry the guns, dismissed to 

 their homes. But before the shikaree left, he pro- 

 mised to inform the gentlemen directly any tigers 

 reappeared in his part of the country. And good 

 pay and good treatment combined to render him 

 perfectly sincere in his promise. As the parties 

 separated, each to pursue its own path, Manajee 

 was heard to give utterance to his usual vaunt. 



The path to the camp lay almost entirely through 

 jungle ; and it was not till they reached the vicinity 

 of the village that any artificially-cleared space of 

 land presented itself. It was some time after night- 

 fall before they arrived, glad enough to dismount ; 

 for that jog-jog, at a shuffling walking pace, for 

 many miles, through thick underwood, after a hard, 

 hot day's work in the sun, is as tedious as fatiguing. 

 Fortunately here also was a small river, or rather 

 nullah, which after winding amongst the hills, 

 slightly expanded. A plunge into a neighbouring 

 pool, though in the dark, refreshed the wearied 

 sportsmen ; and they sat down to dinner with a 

 very keen appreciation of the intrinsic merits of that 

 grateful compound, " mug." 



Rugonauth's report was generally favourable. 

 Two or three tigers, he said, were about, but wan- 



