60 The Hunting Grounds 



eaters are so desperately cunning that one can 

 hardly ever be up to their moves. It is of 

 no use picketing bullocks in the places he 

 frequents, for he will not touch them. I have fre- 

 quently known him to carry off the man who was 

 watching the cattle, and leave the herd untouched. 

 One is never sure of his movements ; he is so cun- 

 ning that he very seldom shows himself, and 

 although after he has carried off some one, I have 

 frequently followed his trail for miles, yet his lair 

 has not yet been discovered, and I believe he never 

 remains two nights in the same place. They say 

 he has killed more than forty people within the 

 last six months; and as I know myself that sixteen 

 post runners have been missed within that time, 

 I have no doubt but that he has carried them 

 off. The dauk l post runners will not go alone now ; 

 they carry the tappal bags in bands of five or six, 

 armed, and with fire-sticks, and even then so great 

 is the fear inspired by this brute, that they often 

 choose to go by an out-of-the-way road rather than 

 run the chance of meeting him. He would be a 

 lucky man, indeed, who killed this beast, for great 

 rewards are offered for his skin. I have followed 

 his trail many a long day, and once got a sight of 

 him as he was drinking ; but when I tried to steal 



1 Dauk or tappal Indian post. The letters being carried in 

 leather bags, on men's shoulders, who are relieved every five miles. 



