260 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



This brief colloquy was carried on in the lowest 

 of whispers, as Norman assumed a convenient 

 position and cocked his rifle. 



"They all seem to be asleep on the other tree. 

 I can't make out that any are sitting up, can you ? " 



"Sahib, they are all asleep. That lazy, ill- 

 begotten rascal, Bappoo, is not keeping watch. He 

 deserves punishment, the bad-born, duty-deserting 

 villain ! " 



Afraid to call out to the sleepers, they were 

 obliged to leave them as they were, and keep a 

 vigilant look-out themselves. ; 



Without uttering another word, and hardly 

 stirring, both awaited in breathless silence the 

 approach of the game. Some time had elapsed, 

 when suddenly Rugonauth laid one hand on 

 Norman's arm, and pointed with the lean, scraggy 

 fore-finger of the other towards a bush which 

 stood a little removed from the pool. 



Norman looked and looked, but for the life of him 

 could make out nothing ; though by the shikaree's 

 movements as of bringing up a gun he evidently 

 wished him to fire. 



He was just beginning to fancy he could make 



out the outlines of some creature in the shade of 



the bush but too indistinct to admit of his firing, 



- when, from quite another part, an animal stalked 



