MI LIT A RYAD VENTURES. 275 



would have recognised it as the rusty 

 dirty weapon, that used to hang over the 

 kitchen fire place ; and I also resolved 

 that when I had saved enough of money 

 by the sale of skins, I would devote it to 

 the purchase of a double barrelled rifle. 



" One day I began to think it was time I 

 should be doing something, towards 

 enabling me buy the much desired new 

 gun ; and as I had long since recovered 

 from the mauling my first and only tiger 

 had given me, I determined to delay no 

 longer, but to sally forth at daylight the 

 next morning. This resolve I put into 

 practice, and started off for the jungle just 

 as the sun was beginning to rise, for I knew 

 this was about the hour when the animals 

 would be hurrying home after their night's 

 feeding, and if I hastened on I might 

 intercept one, before he could gain the 



