276 The Hunting Grounds 



like a drunken man, then his sturdy legs gave way 

 under him, and he sunk to the ground in a kneeling 

 position. I snatched a second gun from Chineah, 

 and fearing he might only be stunned, stepped up to 

 him, and sent a ball crashing into his eye, but it was 

 not required, he never stirred, he was dead. The 

 female who was with him rushed frantically through 

 the jungle, trumpeting, and the rest of the herd, 

 taking alarm, dashed down a densely crowded valley 

 at a pace which defied pursuit. 



Chineah cut off the tail as a trophy, and after 

 we had examined our prize, whose tusks appeared to 

 weigh heavily, we rejoined the rest of the gang, who 

 were anxiously awaiting our arrival, and once more 

 rolling ourselves in our blankets were soon in the 

 arms of Morpheus. 



He who sleeps with a forest-tree for his canopy, 

 a stone for his pillow, and the ground for his bed, is 

 not likely to play the sluggard, and I was up and 

 astir as soon as the soft blue light of morning became 

 perceptible along the eastern horizon. A few hours 

 of repose had had the desired effect restoring both 

 strength of body and vigour of mind I awoke full 

 of health, and fit for another day's hard fag. 



After a hurried ablution in the nullah, I lighted a 

 cheroot, and, guided by my own footprints, proceeded 

 with the gang towards the scene of last night's opera- 

 tions. En route, I perceived the snake which had 



