326 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



hill, or rather series of small knolls, which, in parts 

 thickly covered v\ T ith jungle, rose abruptly from the 

 plain about half a mile off, and of which the water- 

 course was a drainer. There was no thick jungle 

 between the river and the hill ; at least, not of 

 sufficient extent to tempt the beast to remain, with 

 so favourite a cover within reach. So, after direct- 

 ing the beaters to go to one end, the party moved 

 towards the hill in question. 



The ground consisted of a main back-bone, or 

 ridge, with a series of stony knolls on both sides ; 

 the whole apparently tossed abruptly out of the 

 plain by some wild convulsive freak of nature, and 

 quite isolated from any range of hills. It extended 

 for about a mile in length, with a width at 

 the greatest part of some three or four hundred 

 yards. 



About mid- way between the two ends, the slopes 

 were bare of undergrowth, but with numerous small 

 trees scattered over them. This was the part se- 

 lected to be held by the gunners, the half to their 

 rear being but thinly wooded, while that to which 

 the beaters had gone was thickly covered. Hawkes 

 was stationed near the top of the ridge, the other 

 two being lower down, one on either slope. Mac- 

 kenzie was persuaded to follow the example of his 

 wo friends, and get into a tree. 



