THE WEARINESS OF THE WATCHEES. 26,5 



the jungle, But it only proved to be samber or 

 some smaller deer coming to slake their thirst. 

 These little interruptions served to keep them 

 wakeful and on the look-out ; but when some three 

 or four hours had passed, and oft-repeated disap- 

 pointments had cooled the sanguine hopes with 

 which the animals' approach was heralded, their 

 vigilance relaxed, and more than one began to feel 

 drowsy. 



Mackenzie was the first to succumb to the 

 influence of the hour and the stillness of the place. 

 Giving strict injunctions to the attendant to pinch 

 and shake him on the first intimation of the 

 approach of any game coming within the category 

 of those at which it was lawful to fire, he stretched 

 himself out and, disposing of his legs as best he 

 could, was soon fast asleep. 



Hawkes had tried to dissuade him from giving 

 in so soon, and had Norman been there he might, 

 possibly, have been induced to hold up for another 

 half-hour ; .but all his companion's expostulations 

 were of no effect. He slept, and would have con- 

 tinued to do so indifferently well, notwithstanding 

 the discomfort of his position, had not his rest been 

 distracted by sundry punches in the ribs. These 

 Hawkes occasionally administered as the sleeping 

 man's heavy breathing ripened into a snore or 



