426 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



formed the subject of their conversation as they 

 enjoyed the quiet after-dinner Manillas. They were 

 unanimous in agreeing that they had enjoyed a 

 very pleasurable month and a fair amount of good 

 sport. 



It is often customary to award the skin of the 

 animal shot to the hunter who is fortunate enough 

 to give the first wound. But our party had deter- 

 mined to make an equal division of the spoils, as 

 being the fairest and most just to all, and less pro- 

 vocative of disputed shots. The peltries now 

 amounted to a considerable number, and Hawkes 

 counted with satisfaction a goodly array of bottles 

 full of grease, the careful packing of which in an 

 old beer-box he himself superintended. The con- 

 sumption of the liquids and other stores gave room 

 on the camels for the bestowal of these proceeds of 

 the chase, to the compact and proper arrangement 

 of which all had paid much attention. 



One last inspection was given as the camels filed 

 past after being loaded; and the little troop, re- 

 ceiving the order to march, soon vanished on 

 the road into the plains, leaving the hunters, as 

 usual, with the mere necessaries for their night's 

 rest. 



The hills were standing strongly defined against 

 the waning moon, with every rock and tree on their 



