246 
A NATURALIST ON THE PROWL. 
portance, and about sunset, having disposed of urgent 
work and dismissed our clerks, we went out for a stroll 
round a fine old fort in the middle of the plain to the 
east of the town. My friend had three dogs, rowdy 
little beasts, supposed to be fox-terriers, and I had a 
respectable and respected old spaniel, which acted as 
their guide, philosopher and friend. These accom- 
panied us. 
As we neared the dark old fort, a pair of great Fish 
Owls came out of it and flew past us. I remembered 
finding their nest, nearly two years ago, in a large hollow 
tree just inside the gate. There was one young one, a 
goblin in yellow down, with eyes as large as a rupee, 
and so plentifully stocked with vermin that I made all 
the haste I could to restore him to his parents and wash 
my hands of him. I mentioned to H. that the natives in 
the town say that there is generally a small panther in 
the fort. H. ridiculed the idea and insinuated that my 
shikarree , Banawat Beg, had been playing on my credulity. 
H. is naturally disputatious, and I have always had a 
strong, innate passion for the truth, so we were on the 
borders of an argument, when H. started and exclaimed, 
“ What is that ? ” I listened and heard a distant sound 
