AN UNPLEASANT NEIGHBOUR. 271 



of starting to join his friend and view the slain, 

 when he observed Norman suddenly spring up, seize 

 his second gun from the man beside him, and throw 

 himself into a posture of readiness ; while the gun- 

 bearer crouched down in an attitude of terror behind 

 him. 



Hawkes watched for a moment, and then hastened 

 towards him as rapidly as he could, vaguely antici- 

 pating, without being able to assign a specific reason, 

 that his assistance was required. Long ere he reached 

 his comrade, he heard the latter shout his name, and, 

 answering with a halloo, ran at a pace which soon 

 brought him to the spot where Norman, still on the 

 alert, held guard over the dead samber. 



" What is it ? " he asked, as he arrived, breathless 

 and panting with his exertions. 



" A tiger, bedad ! and I must have been close to 

 him. But here, keep guard while I reload my double 

 rifle. I think he has gone, but it is just as well to 

 be prepared. Keep a look-out there towards that 

 clump of korinda bushes," and he pointed to a green 

 patch only a few yards distant from the place, 

 whence he had shortly before emerged ; and about 

 thirty from where they then stood. 



" Was he in it ? " asked Hawkes. 



" Yes," was Norman's reply. " Just as I got here, 

 I heard a grunt, jumped up, and saw a great 



