1 88 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



At last there was a cry of : " Never mind who it 

 belonged to ; go on go on". 



There was an animated discussion on St. Peter's con- 

 duct. " He was a coward," said one, " and he didn't 

 know how to use his parang. I cut people's heads 

 off; I don't cut ears off." 



" No, he wasn't a coward to deny," said another. " We 

 all know that in private life it is shameful to tell an 

 untruth ; but in this case it was like war, and he was 

 justified in telling an untruth, for the truth would have 

 done no good to anybody." 



" He was a fool, "said another. " Why did he come at 

 all if he was going to tell an untruth ? He had better 

 have run away like the others did.'' 



The next morning we took the field prepared to camp 

 out for the night if necessary. A havresack contained 

 my food and my whisky. A waterproof sheet contained 

 my blanket pillow and a spare shirt in case I got wet. 

 Let no one who hunts in the jungle forget to take a 

 Maignen's filter with him, and some salt. When a leech 

 fastens upon you, touch him with salt and he will drop 

 off, and the wound will leave no irritation ; but if you pull 

 off a leech, the wound will smart, and perhaps inflame 

 considerably. 



Shortly after leaving camp we crossed the fresh spoor 

 of a cow elephant with a calf accompanying it, but as I 

 was in search of tuskers we passed on. After going for 

 about two miles my spoorer gave an exclamation of joy 

 and surprise, and halted, at the same time pointing to an 

 immense spoor, quite fresh, which we recognised at once 

 as that of the great elephant which had so often evaded 

 us and of which we were now in search. 



He had passed during the night time, and was direct- 



