66 The Hunting Grounds 



culty, through the thick jungle, which had become 

 very dark from the dense foliage overhead. 



The intense silence which reigned around was 

 broken now and again, as we moved slowly on, by 

 the crackling of a twig underfoot, or a low grunt 

 from some one of the gang, as a sharp thorn entered 

 his naked and unprotected shoulder. At times was 

 heard the distant bark of the elk, or a pattering of 

 feet, as a herd of deer or a sounder of pig got scent 

 of us, and skirled away frightened through the 

 thickets, or a peacock rose with a loud cry, scared 

 by our movements. 



On we went, the trail still distinctly visible, when 

 suddenly I fancied I heard a slight noise. I halted 

 the gang, and whispered, or rather made signs to 

 them, to lie quiet, for we were almost on our hands 

 and knees, and laid my ear to the ground to listen. 

 We distinctly heard grating sounds, like the gnawing 

 of bones, accompanied by low snarls and growls. 

 I noticed Chineah's eyes sparkling with excitement, 

 as he lay listening to the ominous noises ; and the 

 convulsive grabs he made at the few bristles which 

 adorned the point of his chin told me what was 

 passing in his mind. Not a word was spoken, though 

 I saw the eyes of the gang were following my move- 

 ments. 



I examined the nipples of my rifle to see that the 

 powder was well up, and making signs to Chineah 



