254 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



cloths were handed up, and all made snug for a 

 prolonged watch. 



The moon was bright but little past the full 

 and its rays seemed almost to carry heat as they 

 flickered through the foliage and fell on the watchers. 

 The pool, with its surrounding of light and shadow, 

 glittered like a huge sparkling gem set in silver 

 and bronze. As from their perch the hunters 

 covered the water and the open ground near it at 

 a distance of not more than five-and-twenty paces, 

 it may be considered that the shot would be a 

 tolerably certain one ; but the most brilliant moon- 

 light is inadequate to give the sportsman perfect 

 sureness of aim with so fine-sighted a weapon as a 

 sporting rifle. It is said that a stiip of paper along 

 the rib of the barrel, and a touch of phosphorus to 

 the sight, act as great auxiliaries in taking aim. 

 On this occasion our friends had either not heard 

 of these aids, or for some reason had neglected to 

 make use of them perhaps, indeed, had no faith 

 in such devices. They hoped that, though per- 

 fection of shooting could not be relied on, they 

 could make it sufficiently telling to kill a beast at 

 such close range. 



More than once during the first two hours the 

 attention of the watchers was attracted by the 

 crackling of leaves, as some animal brushed through 



