46 BEING LOST IN THE FOREST. 
the jackals have to give place, and wait until 
he has satisfied his hunger. 
The poor soldier had no chance of sleep in 
the midst of all this noise. As soon as it 
was light he came down from his roosting 
place, and continued his way along the river. 
But very soon the bank became so covered 
with jungle and prickly shrubs, that he was 
obliged to take to the water and wade. It 
was very fatiguing work, and when he came 
to a more open place, he lay down upon a 
rock, and in spite of the glaring rays of the 
sun, that beat full upon him, he sank into a 
deep sleep. When he awoke, he had a terrible 
fright ; close beside him were the foot-marks 
of tigers, freshly made upon the soft mud. 
They had evidently been there while he was 
asleep, and he had been quite at their mercy. 
His escape seemed almost miraculous, and he 
did not leave the spot until he had kneeled 
down and thanked God for it. 
He was now very^ hungry, and seeing the 
peacocks feeding on some red berries, he 
thought he would venture to try them. But 
they were sour and disagreeable, and he did 
not think it prudent to eat many of them. 
