ZEALOUS HASTE OF THE SHIKAREES. 289 



the place, as they thus scented the tainted air, 

 became aware that the Sahibs were already at the 

 rendezvous, and awaiting their arrival. This caused 

 them to exchange their fast shuffling walk for a 

 pace more indicative of zealous haste ; and they 

 emerged from the jungle on the other side of the 

 pond, and broke across it at a long swinging trot- 

 Ostentatiously panting with their exertions, they 

 informed the smokers that a tiger had been ringed 

 in the same jungle as that beaten the day previous, 

 and that Rugonauth requested their immediate 

 presence. Under their guidance the hunters soon 

 reached the vicinity of the place in question, and, 

 after a brief conference with Rugonauth, it was de- 

 termined to beat the cover in the same manner as 

 before. But, instead of two being stationed on the 

 bank which had been occupied by Hawkes and 

 Norman, the former alone on this occasion was 

 posted there. Mackenzie and Nonnan agreed to 

 stand together on foot, and hold the opposite side 

 against all comers. 



Anxiously and expectantly the hunters looked 

 and listened as the living wedge of beaters ap- 

 proached the rocks in the middle of the cover. The 

 look-outs, too, strained their eyes to catch a glimpse 

 of the game, as the beaters stopped a little short of 

 the rocks, and yelled with additional vigour. The 



