THE JUNGLE DANGERS. 131 



dering and difficult to mark down. He pronounced 

 it, however, to be a capital bear country ; and on the 

 whole, thought they should remain there for two or 

 three days. 



Old Sheik Hussein averred that the country must 

 be swarming with wild beasts of every description. 



" They were roaring all the night, Sahib, as we 

 came along," he said. " If we had not had torches 

 with us, I will eat an oath that they would have 

 attacked us. Norman Sahib's boy, Baloo, declared 

 to me, he saw tigers and panthers and bears con- 

 stantly. Praise to Allah and Mahomed his prophet, 

 that we all escaped !" 



"That young imp has been frightening the old 

 fellow all along the march, I bet anything," said 

 Sheik Hussein's master, as the worthy servant left 

 the tent. " Didn't he, Manuel ?" 



" Yes, sar," replied Hawkes' Indo-Portuguese 

 servant, who understood English, and had evidently 

 enjoyed the joke. " He very much fright Mr. Sheik 

 Hussein. He tell him many time that one big 

 tiger be in the bushes all ready for to jomp. Mr. 

 Butler very much him shake, and get off tattoo, and 

 get on back one camel. He no likee shikar trip, 

 he say." 



" Well, Manuel," said Hawkes ; " but weren't you 

 afraid ? I suppose there are wild beasts about." 



K 2 



