258 THE EASTERN HTJOTERS. 



only for a minute. Intense drowsiness at last 

 overcame him, and he coiled himself up, and was 

 soon sleeping soundly beside his master ; but with 

 as much space between them as he could manage to 

 place with safety to his own limbs. Of the whole 

 ambushed party none remained awake to learn 

 what came or went. 



The repose of the Englishmen was not unrestless. 

 The knobs in the branches on which they reclined, 

 uneasiness of posture, and the general roughness 

 altogether of their place of slumber prevented their 

 enjoying it with uninterrupted soundness. Each 

 frequently gave a turn, or made a movement to 

 avoid some irritating stump or twig and half awoke ; 

 but never became sufficiently aroused to be con- 

 scious that no sentinel was left in the ambuscade. 



It was drawing on towards dawn, when a low 

 grunting noise some distance away scared two or 

 three cheetul, which, after circling round, had 

 approached the water with timorous steps. 



Whether it was the near approach of the usual 

 hour for rising, the rustling made by the cheetul in 

 their flight, or the distant growl, which aroused the 

 shikaree, none can tell. But certain it is, that 

 from whatever cause, Eugonauth's gaunt figure rose 

 from a recumbent to a sitting posture ; and the 

 experienced old man, accustomed to rely on his 



