292 CKUISING AFTER PIRATES. 



About three miles off I knew pheasants and 

 partridges were to be found, and crossing the piece of 

 water which intervened, I beat all the likely cover along 

 the edges of the millet and maize fields. Toward mid- 

 day I had bagged a few brace of each, some quail, and 

 half-a-dozen snipe, and the sun being by this time 

 warm enough to make a drink refreshing, I made for 

 the village at the foot of the highest range in the 

 neighbourhood, hoping to get some good water, or 

 perhaps tea. As I reached the place, to my surprise 

 it appeared deserted ; not a human being, neither pig 

 nor yelping cur, being visible. But as soon as I got 

 amongst the houses, a face, then a head appeared, at 

 an open casement ; then another, until any number of 

 heads popped out. 



" Lofu ! lofu !" (tiger ! tiger-!) they cried. 



" Where 1 " I said, thinking of the No. 6 shot with 

 which my gun was loaded. 



"He come down just now, and -walk through the 

 village ; he very hungry." 



" I daresay he is," I answered, " but I don't see 

 him ; where did he go ?" That, however, no one knew ; 

 probably picking up a pig, he had returned to the thick 

 impenetrable cover, or the mountain-side. 



Quietly walking down to the nearest village during 



