158 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



his qualities of courage, honesty and intelligence, and 

 was generally placed in charge of some out-station up 

 a river. 



Periodically he used to come down on a visit to head- 

 quarters, to make his report, draw pay, obtain fresh 

 ammunition, etc. He was a curious figure, a thorough 

 child of the jungle ; and he would walk into his com- 

 manding officer's quarters with a twinkle in his keen 

 little eyes, and salute him with an air as though to say : 

 "Yes, you command me; but a cat may look at a 

 king". 



Like all his race he had a brave heart, and knew the 

 meaning of the word duty. 



Bungin was once in charge of a solitary station up 

 a river, and had two privates under him. One day a 

 party of savages from the interior appeared at the station. 

 Bungin, knowing that resistance would be of no avail 

 against such superior numbers, went out to interview 

 them. There was a how-d'ye-do all round, and then 

 Bungin asked them why they had honoured him with 

 this visit. 



They replied : " We are on an expedition with the 

 object of collecting heads. We require two Malay 

 heads, two heads of Sikhs, or natives of India, and two 

 heads of Europeans." 



In an instant a scheme flashed through Bungin's 

 ready-witted brain. He replied: " Ah, collecting heads 

 a noble sentiment I collect myself, and am delighted 

 to meet any who have sympathetic tastes. I think I 

 can see my way to assisting you, and will try to obtain 

 the heads. But this Government is eccentric. It 

 has an objection to the innocent recreation of col- 

 lecting heads, so we must be very careful. Meet me 



