220 A Sportswoman in India 



encouraging khubr too. Lalla had secured plenty 

 of coolies for the next morning, and we went early 

 to roost with renewed hope. 



Damp and chilly dawn saw the faithful band 

 leaving their camp shrouded in white river mist, 

 picking their way across pastures and through a 

 field of Indian corn dripping with dew, and thence 

 disappearing into the jungle. Lalla and S. were 

 walking first, myself on the tat came third, and 

 the chota shikari brought up the rear. The coolies 

 had been divided into three bands, and sent on some 

 miles from where we were eventually to take our 

 stand. 



The dim light of the morning as yet barely 

 penetrated the gloom of the jungle ; deodars towered 

 over our heads, and on either hand formed masses 

 of impenetrable depths, suggestive of containing 

 much of the unknown. Silently we trod, avoiding 

 stepping on a branch or anything which might betray 

 our presence. 



I soon had to leave the tat behind, tied up to 

 a tree, where I hope he enjoyed himself more than 

 I should have done under similar circumstances. To 

 be left behind alone was one of the last things one 

 wished, and I crept and climbed and scrambled 

 assiduously, keeping my breath for the time when 

 it would be wanted, and often gratefully accepting 

 a tow from the chota shikari with his stick. 



It was very hot as well as very silent work. We 

 were following a small stream, and coming to a 



