MILITARY AD VENTURES. 237 



the party frequently during the day, or 

 they will very likely all put down their 

 loads, pull out their hubble bubbles, or 

 pipes, and if undisturbed, will smoke all 

 day long ; and their consciences are so 

 elastic that they would have no hesitation 

 in the evening about taking their talab 

 (pay). We were roused at last by the 

 shikari saying, that if we sat much 

 longer looking at the view, we should 

 have to remain the night there, which 

 stirred us into action in a very short time. 

 How true the fable of the hare and the 

 tortoise ; though our coolies only crawled 

 along the road, we did not overtake them 

 for miles, and they had nearly got to our 

 next encampment when we passed them. 

 We did not shoot any more that day, as I 

 had an uncomfortable feeling about 

 Smith's escape ; and I am sure, poor 



