THE "MUCHAXS" FOR THE NIGHT-WATCH. 2-47 



" You are two to one, so I must give in," rather 

 lugubriously responded Mackenzie to the joint re- 

 monstrances of his companions. " Are we to fire at 

 anything that conies, or reserve ourselves for the 

 tiger ? Though I don't myself believe we shall see 

 anything to fire at." 



"Not at deer of any description, I vote," said 

 Norman. " We can get lots of them by daylight ; 

 only at tigers, panthers, or bears, first come, first 

 served." 



Both of the others agreeing to this resolution, it 

 was considered earned, and under Rugonauth's guid- 

 ance they went to inspect the place, and select trees 

 overlooking the pool, for the "muchans," or rude 

 platforms on which the sportsmen would keep their 

 night-watch. 



The trees were soon chosen, and the men set to 

 work to cut boughs, strips of bark, supple withes, 

 and collect leaves. They were not allowed to do 

 this in the immediate neighbourhood, for the wild 

 animals, with a natural distrust of the signs of man's 

 presence, are chary of approaching a place which 

 shows any recent alteration ; and, rather than face 

 any concealed danger, will seek other spots to slake 

 their thirst. On this account boughs were cut 

 and brought, and the articles collected from such 

 a distance as should leave no lurking suspicion 



