422 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



no means appreciated the merits of a jungle life, 

 and the absence of those comforts and luxuries 

 which the cantonment or city bazaar afforded. No 

 profound admiration of the jungle scenery, or any 

 poetical congeniality with the wildness of nature 

 compensated for the loss of bazaar society, the gossip 

 of his mess -fellows, or the cheering companionship 

 of his beloved Fatma. 



Marching indeed was not to his taste, but he 

 preferred a long plodding night-walk, so long as it 

 led towards home, to a further stay in the jungles. 



For some days past he had been nervously anxious 

 on the subject of " extension of leave." He greatly 

 feared the hunters might at the last be induced to 

 apply for it; and when he heard of their resolve to 

 wait yet another day with the object of compassing 

 the destruction of the lame tiger, his heart sank 

 within him. There was in reality little to be feared 

 in this respect, the funds of the hunters being well- 

 nigh exhausted, but of this he was not aware. 



But now that the order for a move had actually 

 been issued, he rejoiced greatly, and so much were 

 his feelings roused, or his usual impregnable stolidity 

 sharpened, that he actually gave birth to his first 

 and last-born joke ; though there is strong ground 

 for believing that the delivery was effected unknown 

 to himself. 



