A HOMEWARD MOVE. 421 



they found gathered there a number of women, who 

 broke into a chant of welcome as they rode up. 

 Roopur's father had been a person of consequence 

 in the village, and it was matter of congratulation 

 to all that his death had at last been avenged. 



There was indeed much rejoicing that evening. 

 On the skin of the tiger being removed, an old 

 bullet wound was traced, and the lead found flat- 

 tened against the bone of the shoulder, on the same 

 side as the twisted foot. This was, in all probability, 

 the veritable bullet which Roopur's father had driven 

 home into the long barrel of his matchlock in full 

 hopes of its causing the tiger's death, but which, 

 alas ! had but led to his own. 



The month's leave was now fast drawing to a 

 close ; and as the hunters' efforts had been that day 

 successful in destroying the man-killer and possi- 

 ble man-eater there remained no sufficiently strong 

 reason to induce them to defer their proposed inarch 

 on the morrow. 



Orders were accordingly issued for a pack-up and 

 start after dinner, it being decided to make a twenty 

 mile march in the direction of cantonments, from 

 which they were now distant some eighty or ninety 

 miles. 



It was with no little satisfaction that old Sheik 

 Hussein received the orders to this effect. He by 



