THE WAINAAD FOKEST. 115 



had a fine illustration of how the protective instinct varies in 

 animals according to surrounding circumstances. We surprised a 

 couple of gray langurs, feeding in a small grove of low trees in the 

 midst of a verv thin and very low forest, which was overgro^Ti with 

 tall grass. When the monkeys saw us they tried to hide in the 

 tree-tops, but finding it impossible to escape in that way, they ran. 

 We chased them through the grove without getting a shot, but at 

 last, when they reached the farther side we felt that we were sure 

 of them. In those low trees they would fall an easy prey to any of 

 our weapons. Who ever heard of a monkey coming down from his 

 native tree-top to escape a hunter ? 



When the monkeys saw that the trees no longer afforded them 

 shelter and concealment, they leaped to the ground and started off 

 at a tearing gallop through the tall grass. We ran after them as 

 hard as we could go, but so long as the monkeys remained upon 

 the ground they were completely hidden from us. Very soon one 

 of them leaped upon a white-ant hill, and looked back to see where 

 w^e were. The instant my gun touched my shoulder he was down 

 and away again, with the most astonishing bounds, and flourishes 

 of his long tail. 



We renewed the chase at our best speed, and once more a 

 monkey leaped up to see w^here we were. Four times this manoeu- 

 vre was repeated, the animals gaining ground each time, until at 

 last we gave up beaten. This was the only way in which they 

 could escape us, and they knew it much better than we. 



After sixteen days in the jungle, I decided to return to Ooty 

 without delay, but soon found I had stayed a day too long. The 

 night before we were to start back it rained nearly all night, and 

 with a chill, a splitting headache, and a high fever, the grim Phan- 

 tom of the jungle marked me for his own. In sjDite of my iron 

 constitution and strictly temperate by-laws, the jungle-fever had 

 fastened upon me, although it was no more than I could expect. 

 But it is not such a terrible ailment after all — in fact it is half good 

 — for, owing to its regular intermittence, it gives its victim a chance 

 to rest and recuperate a little between spells. 



We made ready to return to Ooty at once, and Ramasawmy 

 promised to engage a bullock bandy (cart) for us. Instead of 

 doing so, he did nothing at aU about it, and went off shooting in the 

 forest. We lost a day's time through relying on his word, our 

 camp equipage got soaking wet in a rain-storm, and with the jungle- 

 fever to help matters, my patience underwent a severe strain. \Mien 



