276 SPORTING AND 



repose and tranquility of his own den. 

 I stepped out briskly and soon reached the 

 jungle ; but, instead of turning my steps 

 in the same direction as I had taken the 

 last time, I took an opposite one, and 

 began to traverse the jungle with great 

 caution and care ; I did not put my foot 

 to the ground without looking first if there 

 were any twigs to snap or get displaced, 

 and in this manner, I quietly advanced a 

 considerable distance without seeing or 

 hearing anything to interest me. Some- 

 times I would catch a glimpse of a large 

 snake the deadly cobra gliding off in 

 front of me, but this was all that attracted 

 my attention, during the first hour I traversed 

 that lonely and desolate jungle. I pro- 

 ceeded on, and at last, after I had passed 

 a part of the jungle that was a little thicker 

 than usual, I heard a great rush, and a 



