A SECOND BEAT. 295 



A ride of a couple of miles brought them to the 

 neighbourhood of another river, which somewhat 

 lower down joined the one they had left. Here 

 they found the Shikaree, who expressed his surprise 

 at the Sahibs being so long in coming. 



When he heard, however, of the success already 

 achieved, he was pleased to express his firm con- 

 viction that this day was destined to be an impor- 

 tant one in matters of sport. There could be no 

 question, he considered, that the fates on this 

 occasion were highly propitious, and the presiding 

 deities of the jungles favourably inclined. 



Assured though he professed himself of this 

 important circumstance, he nevertheless deplored 

 the paucity of the beaters, as the cover was very 

 extensive. As heretofore consisting for the most 

 part of jow, it spread over a large area nearly level 

 with the bed of the river, and which during the 

 rains was probably flooded. Its extreme length may 

 have been half a mile- 

 Owing to its extent, the hunters were placed in 

 positions widely apart one from the other. Each 

 had to guard various outlets which led to the 

 surrounding jungle, and, at the same time, obtain 

 as commanding a view as possible, of the breaks and 

 openings in the cover itself. 



To each was assigned a tree ; but Mackenzie 



