424 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



The following day would carry the hunters out of 

 the wild regions where tigers and bears were to be 

 found ; and 011 this, the last evening of their stay 

 in the little-cultivated tract of country where 

 Nature predominated untrammelled and unadorned, 

 they compared, and not to its disadvantage, their 

 wild, free life in the woods with that of habitual 

 dwellers in towns. 



They knew that life has other duties besides those 

 of exterminating the beasts of the forest; but 

 they felt that they should return to such duties 

 as fell to their lot, the better for the month of 

 freedom, and the exercise of those manly qualities 

 which the invigorating pursuit of sport calls into 

 action. 



Courage, nerve, presence of mind, activity, reso- 

 lution, and decision had been all, more or less, exer- 

 cised and fostered by the prosecution of their 

 campaign. Moreover, the natural energy and 

 craving for action - - inherent qualities in most 

 Englishmen of healthy organisation had found 

 full scope for their employment, without the dete- 

 riorating effect too often produced by their devotion 

 to other and less healthy town pursuits. 



Again the young moon looked smilingly down on 

 the little camp, now in all the bustle of preparation 

 for departure, as the hunters sat outside after 



