162 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



Through the rapidly deepening gloom of the brief 

 tropical twilight, the hunters stumbled over the 

 numerous obstacles which strewed the wild jungle 

 path ; and Hawkes, more than once, imagined that 

 a snake wriggled away in front. Camp was, how- 

 ever, reached at last ; and at dinner something more 

 than the usual allowance of " mug " was consumed. 

 The meal over, and a single cheroot smoked, they 

 all turned in. 



