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"Archie Mackenzie," etc. IVIIIf IHKEE II.I.rsIRA rioXS BY I.A.\CJ:Ia)T SPI:KI> TORONTO THE MUSSON BOOK COMPANY LIMITED I 1 fr r: I .C SH- I c i i CHAP. I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XL XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. CONTENTS The Twins Succeed An Adventure in the Docks Beset by Fanatics Hunting the Gavial . In the Monkey Temple After Big Game . A Brush with a Bison A Thrilling Combat . A Perilous Moment A Night in the Jungle Ralph Distinguishes Himself To THE Animallai Hills The Tusker's Charge . A Double Danger Mr. Gordon Mackay's Story Varied Experiences The Professor in Peril Hugh to the Rescue . The Pursuit of the Panther PACK ( 9 17 27 35 t 44 ! 53 61 1 i' i 69 78 1 86 95 1 ! 104 i , "3 1 121 5 129 .1 i 139 i 147 f , 155 V. 164 //5pyf •) CHAP. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. CONTENTS A Hard Fight " • • The Great Elephant-Drive Storm-Tossed A Midnight Attack The Escape from the Flames PIUNTING the OrANG-OuTAN . To the Hill Country. Captured by Kyans Rescued and Home Again . PACE 182 199 209 219 228 238 246 u LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THROBBING WITH ANXIETY, THE B,;V.^ MADE HASTE TO LIFT AWAY THE MASS OF BLOODSTAINED FUR Frontispiece RALPH, RECKLESS OF DANGER, RUSHE, ACROSS THE SAND- BAR AND LAID HOLD OF THE CREATURE'S TAIL Facing J>ai;e 42 THE GROUND UNDER THE PROFESSOR GAVE WAY, AND HE SANK BENEATH THE WATER . . . . 2 22 ■ NOTE The author desires to acknowledge his special obligation to Mr William T. Hornaday's Two Yean in the Jungle.— ]. M. O. I THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS CHAPTER I THE TWINS SUCCEED ENJOYING the enormous endowment that it did, the Occidental University could afford to do things on a grand scale. Accordingly, when it was decided to make the department of Natural History especially rich in examples of the wild life of the Orient, the authorities considered that the best way to accomplish this would be to send the head of that department to obtain personally what was sought. Professor Orde received the commission with somewhat mixed feelings. The novelty of the idea, the romance of it, and the inevitable spice of danger appealed strongly to his adventurous spirit. Yet he loved the daily routine of his work in the class-room and laboratory, and felt loath to have it broken in upon for a lengthened period. There was also another cause for hesitancy on his part. A bachelor himself, he was, nevertheless, 9 lO THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS charged with the care of two boys, his nephews, orphaned by their parents' tragic death in a railway colHsion some years before, and he wondered how they were to be looked after during his absence. While still debating the matter in his mind, he gave the boys some hint of it, and at once they were on fire with eagerness to be allowed to accompany him. * Oh, do take us with you, Uncle Lyall,' they pleaded, each grasping a hand as he sat in his big chair having an after-dinner pipe. * We can be lots of help, you know, and we'll learn a great deal. It will be ever so much better than going to school.' The Professor looked from one to the other of the flushed, excited faces, with a sympathetic, yet puzzled expression. He loved the boys as if they were, indeed, his own sons, and the idea of parting from them for a whole year was by no means pleasant. They were twins, as much alike as two peas out of the same pod, and never did brothers get along better together. Just half-way through their teens, they had sturdy athletic frames, frank, pleasing countenances, and active, inquiring minds. They were both blond of hair and blue of eye, and their snow-white teeth gleamed through full, firm lips when they smiled, which was pretty often. Their uncle regarded them with fond pride. More welcome companions he could not desire — and yet, would it be expedient or wise to take them ? THE TWINS SUCCEED II The question of expediency he must settle with the University authorities, but that of wisdom he must determine himself. He puffed hard at his pipe for some time with- out speaking, although the boys continued their pleadings. At length, withdrawing the richly- browned meerschaum from his mouth, he tapped it on his boot-heel to knock out the ashes, and said slowly : ' I don't know, my boys. I can't say anything just now. There are difficulties in the way, and many things to be considered. You might as well stop coaxing. In fact, don't bother me about it any more. I'll see.' Now, the boys knew their uncle well, and took him at his word. They dropped the subject at once, so far as he was concerned, but when they were by themselves they talked of little else. They were both well read in books of exploration and travel, and their inclinations all tended towards that kind of life, so that it was not mere boyish love of novelty which inspired them. ^ The days went by without their uncle again refer- ring to the matter, and they found it very hard to restrain their impatience. More than once Ralph, who was more hasty than Hugh, had a question on the very tip of his tongue, but before he got it out, his brother, who seemed to be able to divine what was in his mind, checked him .,a_' ,_.. 12 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS with a warning glance, or by suddenly saying some- thing himself, and the question remained unasked. This uncertainty still continued when, one Saturday afternoon, Hugh and Ralph were invited by a schoolmate, named Russel Ellis, to go out with him in an automobile. It was a new machine of great power and speed, which the boy's father had recently purchased for him, and the management of which he thought he fully understood. The day was perfect, the roads in fine order, and the four boys — for another schoolmate had been picked up — were in the highest spirits as they sped smoothly along through the beautiful country. ' Why, this beats trolley-riding all hollow ! ' cried one of them gleefully. ' Thp< first thing I'll do when I'll get rich will be to have a machine of my own. They're just the greatest things out' They ran about a score of miles, enjoying every yard of it, and then turned homewards. Half-way thither they came to a long, level stretch of road that tempted to high speed, and just as they entered it another automobile, driven by a pompous-looking gentleman who seemed very proud of his machine, came up behind them. 'Turn out there, youngsters, and let me pass,' shouted the man in a tone of imperious command that had not the slightest hint of courtesy in it. The quick temper of Russel Ellis was immediately aroused. I I. J THE TWINS SUCCEED 13 ' I'll do nothing of the sort,' he exclaimed. ' If his Lordship wants to get past, let him do it, if he can,' and with that he put on the full power. The machine leaped forward with a sud^nness that nearly made the boys lose their hats, and the next moment was careering along the road at a tremendous rate. The man behind, so soon as he saw what was done, let out an angry exclamation, and then let out his automobile, which was an importation from France, while the boys rode a home-made one. Down the long straight stretch flew the two machines in a cloud of dust, and the boys, who had not expected anything so exciting, shouted exult- antly. • Even if the old chap does catch up to us he can't get by so long as I keep the middle of the road. He won't risk running into the ditch,' said Russel, with a joyous chuckle. At first Russel held the advantage he gained by the sudden start, but presently the greater power of the big French racer began to tell. Yard by yard it closed the gap, until the rapid ' chough, chough, chough,' was right at the boys' back. The red face of its owner glared fiercely through the dust, and he was evidently wrathful enough to do anything to them if he only got the chance. Fifty yards ahead, the road made rather a sharp turn to avoid a sort of pond, and Ralph and Hugh ■■1 1 I 14 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS both felt a thrill of apprehension as their quick eyes took in the situation. ' Look out for the turn, Russel,' cried Hugh. Russel nodded confidently, and gave a saucy glance back at his angry follower. But that was just when he made his mistake. He should not have taken his attention from what was before him for a moment. It caused him to lose sight of a break in the road, due to a subsidence of the gravel. Into this went the right fore- wheel, and the con- sequent jerk threw the machine out of its course, so that, ere the young driver could recover control, it plunged over the side of the road and in'-o the pond, with a splash like that of a whale 'brecv^hing,' while the other machine dashed triumphantly by. The muddy bottom of the pond made a soft bed for the automobile, and its warm brown waters opened hospitably to receive the boys, so that none of them came to any serious hurt. But it was highly humiliating, nevertheless, and Russel Ellis's bitter feelings were not at all assuaged by the gentleman with whom he had been racing returning to inquire into the extent of the accident, and seeming much relieved that no one had been injured. It was a very crestfallen quartet that ma le their way back to the city, and the story of their experience, of course, quickly became public. I ^ THE TWINS SUCCEED 15 ^ When it reached Professor Orde's ears, he en- joyed the joke as much as anybody else, and said nothing by way of a reproof to his nephews ; but It set him thinking deeply, and the result of his cogitations he thus expressed to himself: ' I really believe I'll have to take these boys with me I can't shut them up anywhere while I 'm away and nobody knows what scrapes and adventures hey 11 be getting into. So long as they're with me, 1 can keep an eye on them : and after all the time won t be wasted. They can bring some of their books with them; and keep up their studies. If there s no positive objection made by the authorities, 1 11 take them.' ^ He found some difficulty in removing the objec- tions raised by those who were sending him ; but at last he succeeded, and with a mind very much relieved went home to tell his nephews, who had been behaving themselves with unwonted propriety ever since the automobile adventure. When they were seated at dinner he began to talk about his going away, the time for which was now drawing near, and to question them as to how they thought they would manage to get along without mm. They looked at each other, and then at him before replying. They seemed to be in doubt as to which should be spokesman, but, after a moment's delay, Hugh cleared his throat, and with a noticeable i6 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS quiver of the lip and shakiness of voice, said plaintively : 'Then you have quite decided not to take us, uncle ? ' The Professor smiled indulgently. He felt that he had kept them upon tenterhooks long enough, and that it would be sheer cruelty to continue to do so. ' No, my boys,' he replied, beaming upon them; ' I have decided just the other way. I'm going to take you with me.' Like a flash both boys sprang off their chairs and threw themselves upon him, hugging him violently and exclaiming : * Oh, you dear, good uncle ! We're really going you ? We're so glad ! We won't be any with bother to you, but we'll help you all we can.' And thus the matter was settled to the great satisfaction of all. CHAPTER II AN ADVENTURE IN THE DOCKS IN the days that intervened before their de- parture, Hugh and Ralph Powis were keenly envied by their schoolmates. To have a whole year's holiday and to spend it in seeing strange lands and hunting wild beasts — surely that seemed the very acme of happiness to hearty boys. There was hardly one among their companions who would not have gladly exchanged places with them, and they naturally enough were caused to think themselves of more account than they had ever done before. * If they make so much of us just because we're going with uncle,' said Hugh shrewdly, 'what will they do when we come back, after having been all round the world ? ' 'Why, we'll be regular heroes, won't we.?' re- sponded Ralph exultantly ; * and what a lot of stories we'll have to tell the boys ! We must keep diaries, and put down everything exciting that happens, so we won't forget it.' 2 17 k i8 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS As Professor Orde wished to see some of the best natural-history collections of Europe before beginning his work, it was necessary for the little party to cross the Continent, and take steamer for England at New York. The bulk of the outfit for the expedition, such as fire-arms, ammunition, tools, collecting cases, and camp equipment, was procured in New York, and when it had all been gathered together, and securely packed, the Professor heaved a huge sigh of relief. 'I'm thankful that's finished!' he cried, 'and I'm not afraid to assert that a more complete and compact outfit was never made up before. I can't think of anything that is missing ; but if there is, I can get it easily enough on the other side.' The voyage across the Atlantic, in the big ocean greyhound, was full of novelty and delight to Hugh and Ralph. They had good weather, and were but slightly troubled with sea-sickness. They were consequently able to enter fully into all the amusements — shufile-board, deck-quoits, obstacle- races, and the like — wherewith the passengers are wont to while away the long hours of enforced leisure. Their attractive appearance, pleasing manners, and high spirits made them general favourites, and when the purpose of their journey became known they were regarded with special interest, particularly by the ladies. I, AN ADVENTURE IN THE DOCKS 19 id 'The dear lads,' said one motherly soul, as she watched them skylarking about the deck. ' It seems a great risk to be taking them amongst savages and ravenous beasts, when they're hardly old enough to be out of school. I'm sure I wouldn't like to be the one to assume the responsibility,' and she gave Professor Orde, who was leaning against the taffrail, as severe a look as her kindly countenance could achieve. To tell the truth, the Professor sometimes had his own misgivings upon the subject. He quite realised that the venture was one which could be justified only by its issue, and there were moments when he heartily wished he had either declined the commis- sion from the University, or left his nephews at some good boarding-school where they could have stayed until his return. Then at other times he found such pleasure in their company, and they seemed so biddable, so bright, so sturdy, so well able to stand lots of knocking about, and so sure to learn a great deal from their experiences, that all his misgivings vanished, and he congratulated himself upon having decided as he had done. They explored the great vessel from stem to stern, making friends with the engineers, firemen, and sailors, of whom they asked innumerable questions. They even cultivated acquaintance with the steerage passengers, among whom they found some (quaint 90 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS characters. Their keen eyes missed nothing of interest as the swift steamer ploughed her way across the ocean waste. They were highly amused by the plunging porpoises that played about the bow, and one afternoon, to their great delight, they sighted a whale, a veritable monster, which was kind enough to keep in view for some time, so they got a thoroughly good look at him. Their uncle was always ready to answer their questions, and to give them full details about the sea-birds that incessantly followed them, and the dangers of the deep that showed themselves from time to time, so that they were learning something every day. In due time the port of Liverpool was reached, and, after spending a day there in order to visit the admirable Derby Museum, they took train for London, where they were to remain a fortnight, while the Professor completed his arrangements. The vast city both amazed and appalled them. Its size and strangeness exceeded all their expect- ations, and for the first time since setting out they felt something akin to home-sickness. Their uncle's time being much taken up with visiting museums and having conferences with scien- tists in his own line, they perforce had to shift for themselves a good deal. At first they confined themselves to the regulation rounds of the British Museum, the National Gallery, AN ADVENTURE IN THE DOCKS ., the Tower the Cathedral, and so on; but thov presently had enough of these, and began to hanker for someth,ng more enlivening. The Zoologica Gardens, of course, formed a great attraction, and they went there again and again, until they had seen every creature of fur and feather in the institution Yet even these palled upon them, and then the d^of paymg the London Docks a visit occurred to Hugh and was greeted by Ralph with acclaim. Great head! he cried. 'Why didn't 1 think of U myself? There must be any amount of inter "tmg things to see along the docks. I've read a lot about them.' ^ ^ They started right after lunch, and, by dint of thrdUE. '-'''-' ' '"'^ '"-" -"- - Passing through the great gates at no small risk of be,ng knocked down and run over by some of the heavy drays that were jolting in or out tn a th^nk of an ant-heap that's had the top ktk" The simile, except, of course, as regards the size of he workers, was quite an apt one, and Hugh smiled his assent to it. ^ ' ^°"'''" J"^' "ght.' he said. . I wonder do they 22 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS ( I all know what they're about, or are some of them running around just to seem busy ? ' One did not need to look long, however, before it became clear that the multitude of men, and horses, and drays were all working with a definite purpose, and that the confusion was only apparent. The boys strolled along between the huge ware- houses, exchanging guesses as to the nature and value of their contents, and not hesitating to ask questions of the men when they were entirely at a loss. Sometimes they received civil answers, and some- times very churlish ones ; but the latter did not cloud their spirits in the least. They were out for inform- ation as well as sight-seeing, and they were not to be easily daunted. Keeping on until tl" ^y reached the big basins against whose stone sides the ships and steamers were ranged so closely that you wondered how they ever got into their berths, and how they could get out again without doing damage to each other, they made bold to go on board one of them which was discharging a cargo of tea. ' Hullo, young chaps ! What do you want aboard ? ' was the challenge that met them at the farther end of the gangway, as they were about to step on the deck. ' We're not in need of hands now.' The boys laughed at the idea of their being in quest of employment. AN ADVENTURE IN THE DOCKS 23 * We're not after work, sir,' :^nswered Hugh. ' We're just amusing ourselves looking around. It's a great place this, and lots to see.' The stern look left the officer's face, and his tone was quite gracious, as he said : 'Oh, oh! 1 understand. I beg your pardon. Well, you're welcome to look over this ship, but she's nothing extra. Just an ordinary old freighter.' Under his guidance they went over the vessel, which they thought a rather shabby, common- place craft compared with the floating palace they had crossed the Atlantic in, and Ralph took a chance to whisper to Hugh : * I hope we're not going out to India in this sort of a steamer, eh ? ' To which Hugh responded with a significant shrug. As they were about to take their leave, the officer, who had been impressed by their bright talk, said : ' Wouldn't you like to see the inside of one of the big warehouses ? They're worth a look in, I think.' 'Oh yes, indeed we would,' they promptly ex- claimed. 'All right, then, I'll go along with you. I'm not on duty just now,' responded their new friend, and he led the way. They went to a tea warehouse — a vast structure of stone with dim, narrow passages between mighty piles of tea-chests that seemed to stretch endlessly into the darkness. 24 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS If.' ii Through these gloomy aisles they followed the officer, who took evident pride in displaying his knowledge of the different varieties of tea and whence they came, until Ralph grew tired of it and hankered for some diversion. He was in the mood for mischief, and the foolish notion came into his mind of slipping away from the others and taking a short cut that would enable him to get ahead so as to spring out upon them suddenly at some particularly dark corner. With him to think was to act, and at the first cross-passage he glided off to the left, when the others went to the right, and tip-toed down the dim alley. It proved much farther to the next cross-passage than he had expected, and when he did reach it, he somehow took the wrong turning, so that instead of steering towards Hugh and the officer, he was really going away from them. * I guess I've lost my bearings,' he said to himself. • I can't hear a sound of the others. I wonder how far I am from them. Ah ! ' he added in a relieved tone, as another passage opened out, ' I've got it now. This must be the way,* and he quickened his pace. But he had not taken many steps when it grew so dark that he could not see a yard ahead of him, and was fain to touch the pile of chests with his right hand for guidance. % I AN ADVENTURE IN THE DOCKS 25 * I don't like this a little bit. I just wish I had not left them,' he murmured. The words were hardly spoken when, as if the floor had opened before him, he vanished utterly ! He had fallen through a hatchway left open and unguarded by the careless storemen, into the cellar, where his head came so violently in contact with a heavy beam as to render him unconscious. When he slipped away from the others, Hugh was listening so intently to what the officer was telling about how the tea was grown and prepared for market, that he did not observe Ralph's absence until they had gone some way on. Then he stopped short, exclaiming : ' Hullo ! What's become of Ralph ? I thought he was just behind us.' They both peered down the passage, but not a sign could they see of the boy. 'Well, that's queer,' said Hugh, beginning to feel concerned. ' He certainly was with us a minute ago. He must be trying to play some trick on us,' and raising his voice, he called out : ' Ralph ! Ralph ! Where are you ? ' But no answer was returned, and now, becoming really alarmed, Hugh hurried back over the way they had come since he last noticed Ralph near them, the officer keeping him company. Their efforts to discover any trace of Ralph proving fruitless, they then hastened to the entrance i ' f , t 26 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS of the warehouse in order to obtain the assistance of some of the storemen. *We must get lights and search the place thoroughly. Your brother may have fallen down a hatchway or something,' said the officer, little knowing how correct was his supposition. When they reached the entrance, however, they were greeted with a gruff : ' Hurry up there, and get away. We're just shutting up,' and the storeman bustled about closing the big door. 'Hold on! Hold on, please,' panted Hugh, all out of breath with excitement and exertion. ' And what'll I hold on for ? ' demanded the store- man, pausing in his work a moment to eye the speaker with stern suspicion. ' Because my brother's got lost in there, and I want to find him before you shut up,' explained Hugh, laying his hand upon the man's arm as though to stay him from proceeding further, and looking up into his hard face with eager entreaty. CHAPTER III BESET BY FANATICS THE storeman gave utterance to a snarl by way of expressing his surprise at Hugh's statement, and then added gruffly : • What business had your brother in the warehouse, anyway ? I've no time to be looking after young cubs who can't take care of themselves.' Hugh's temper was touched by the man's rough speech, but he had too much sense to show it as he hastened to say in a tone of manly apology : 'I'm very sorry to give you any trouble; but won't you, please, help us find my brother ? ' The storeman growled again, and then grunted out : ' Well, I suppose he's got to be found. So come along and show me where you missed him.' They quickly reached the place, and as there was still no sign of Ralph the storeman made a rapid examination of the adjoining passages, in the course of which he came to the open hatchway. 27 ::! Jt ;i 28 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS * Humph ! ' said he. * This may explain it. You stay here till I run down to the cellar.' They could hear him tramping down the stairs, and presently he called up from below : * He's here, and I'm thinking he's hurt a bit.' When they came to Ralph, he was still insensible, and they made haste to carry him to the open air, Hugh feeling acutely anxious about him. But by this time the stunning effect of the fall was passing away, and a dash of cold water in his face served to rouse Ralph from unconsciousness, although he was still too dazed to give an account of himself. * You'd better have a cab to take him back to your hotel,' said the officer, who seemed to feel that he was in some measure responsible for the accident. ' I'll run up to the gate and get one.* He was back in a few minutes with a four-wheeler and, Ralph having been comfortably bestowed therein, the boys drove off, Hugh thanking the officer warmly as he bade him good-bye. The ride home did Ralph so much good that he was almost himself again when they reached the hotel, and, barring a big bruise on his forehead and a general feeling of soreness, he was really none the worse for his mishap. When Professor Orde heard about it, he had a good laugh. ' Well, I see I must get you out of London as BESET BY FANATICS 29 soon as possible/ he said, 'or there's no knowing what will happen to you.' His own work being by this time completed, he was able to do as he said with little delay, and a few days later the trio were on board one of the splendid Penmsular and Oriental boats, bound for India The voyage through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean, on the luxuriously appointed steamship, proved exceedingly enjoyable, and they made so many pleasant acquaint- ances on board that they almost regretted when the big vessel came to anchor in the bay of Bombay. Hiring one of the small boats which swarmed about like waterflies, they were rowed ashore, and Pro- fessor Orde at once set about securing quarters. He found these to his satisfaction in a snug little hotel that promised more comfort and privacy than any of the huge hostelries, and, having got all their belongings bestowed therein, they were free to ex- plore the city. 'Now, my boys,' said the Professor at break- fast, 'before we start, I want to warn you to be careful what you do and say. This India is a strange place, and it is full of still stranger people, with some of whom it is very easy to get into trouble if you don't know their ways. The great thing is to mind your own business, and not be too curious. Do you understand ? ' Thev volubly assured him that they did, and that ' i If 30 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS they would be very careful, whereat he smiled knowingly. * The proof of the pudding is in the eating,' he said. ' I'll be surprised if I don't have to remind you of your promise.' They were much pleased to find Bombay equipped with street cars, for, although it was the month of January, the heat was quite sufficient to render walk- ing an exertion not to be indulged in any more than was absolutely necessary. Rolling smoothly along a broad, shady street, they passed the imposing buildings of the Government and the University, with a spacious esplanade before them, and so came to the denser portions of the city, where the car had to make its way through such narrow, crooked, and crowded streets that the boys were kept in constant wonderment at its being able to progress at all. The motley, fantastic throng that opened a passage for the car in obedience to the shouts of the driver aroused their keenest interest. The serious, thought- ful Parsees in their rich black satin robes and oil- skin hats ; the long-bearded Jews in red fezzes ; the swarthy, fierce-eyed Arabs ; the tall Mohammedans in their huge turbans of white or green ; the stalwart Mahrattas in turbans of red ; the Roman Catholic priests in their sombre garb ; the Hindoos of a hundred types, with shaven heads and caste-marks on their foreheads, and stalking, stiffly through them with a BESET BY FANATICS 31 conscious air of superiority, the British soldier*^ in their crimson uniforms. ♦ What a queer-looking crowd ! ' Hugh exclaimed. ' Where did they all come from, Uncle Lyall ? They surely don't belong here.' • Well, hardly, my boy,' answered the Professor, with a smile. * They've come from near and far, and many of them are visitors like ourselves. You'd need to stay a good while in India to get to know about them all, and to learn their languages. But that's not what we've come for. It's the wild animals, not the strange people of the country, that we're after.' Leaving the car at the great market-place, they strolled around in a leisurely way, the Professor looking about him for what would be worth his attention as specimens, while the boys were deeply interested in the strange things displayed for sale. Somehow they became separated in the noisy throng of buyers and sellers, the Professor going in one direction and the boys in another, and none of them noticing the fact until they were lost to each other's sight. * Hullo ! ' cried Ralph, who was the first to become aware of it. "Where's Uncle Lyall.-* I thought he was just ahead of us.' ' So did I,' responded Hugh in a tone of concern. ' Which way could he have gone ? ' They craned their necks in every direction, but II 32 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS i' not a glimpse of the Professor could they catch. He seemed to have disappeared completely. ' What had we better do now ? ' asked Ralph. ' Stay where we are in case uncle comes back for us, or go ahead on the chance of finding him ? ' It was not easy to remain in one place with such a crowd pressing and pushing all around them, so they concluded to go on, trusting to find their uncle before long. But, eagerly as they looked to right and left, their eyes failed to discern the familiar form, and they grew quite troubled, for, with everything about them so strange and bewildering, they naturally shrank from making known their plight. As they stood, anxious and irresolute, they were thrown apart by an animal that thrust itself rudely between them, and Ralph, whose quick temper caused him to do many things for which he was afterwards sorry, shoved the creature away in no gentle manner, exclaiming as he did so : ' Confound you for a clumsy brute ! Why don't you look where you're going ? ' Now, as it happened, the ' clumsy brute * was one of those little bulls which the Hindoos suffer to take such liberties, because they consider them sacred, and Ralph's hasty action and contemptuous words had been seen and heard by a temple priest who was near at hand. Resenting both, he raised his voice in reprobation, BESET BY FANATICS 33 and the next moment the boys were the centre of a crowd of natives whose furious faces and fierce outcries betokened imminent danger. The bull, all unconscious of the ruction aroused by him, had placidly continued his course ; but this made no difference to the fanatical throng. Glad of an opportunity to attack foreigners, whom in their hearts they hated, they were in the mood to do the two boys to death if they were not rescued from their hands. Poor Hugh and Ralph were utterly bewildered, not having the slightest idea how they had given offence, for, of course, they did not understand either the priest's angry words or the Hindoos' clamour. They stood shoulder to shoulder with fists clenched for defence, their dilated eyes and colour- less countenances eloquent of their feelings. Closer pressed the murderous mob, and the blows were already beginning to fall upon the boys' bodies. In another moment they would have been beaten down and trampled under foot, when above the uproar, rose a stentorian shout of : ' Halt there ! Stop that ! ' And through the crowd there charged a sergeant of artillery, accompanied by two gunners. They wore huge fellows, all three of them, and the thin light Hindoos seemed as children in their hands. They threw them to either side with superb ease, 3 34 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS I and in the twinkling of an eye reached the boys, who grasped their sinewy arms, crying : ' Oh, thank you, sirs ! We were afraid they were going to kill us.' But the danger was not yet over. The timely advent of the artillerymen had saved the boys for the moment. It yet remained to get them out of the midst of the howling rabble into a place of safety. As water that has been divided flows back at once, so the natives closed in again, looking fiercer than before, and the boys' rescuers found it necessary to form a sort of triangle with their faces outward, and the boys inside. ' Keep steady there now,' said the sergeant to them, his deep bass voice having a stern ring, because he knew how critical was the situation. There was not much fear of their disregarding him. They realised that in spite of their stalwart champion they were by no means out of harm's way, and as they grasped one another's hands and pressed close together, Ralph whispered to Hugh in a serious tone that was very different from his wonted blitheness : •They look like deviln, don't they, Ralph? I hope and pray they won't get us into their clutches again.' boys, they i ^ •f -I CHAPTER IV HUNTING THE GAVIAL THE brawny artillerymen presented so fear- less a front that the Hindoos, wrought up as they were, hesitated to attack them although they shouted all the louder, and seemed about to hurl themselves upon the soldiers at any moment. This irresolution gave the sergeant the opportunity to make a sudden swoop upon an adjacent stall where ox-goads were for sale, and to snatch up three of them, with which he quickly armed himself and his companions. Wielding these effective weapons, they began to move forward with the boys between them, the crowd slowly giving way, as none of them cared to be stabbed with the sharp points or smitten with the heavy handles. In this manner they reached a sort of alcove into which the boys were hurriedly pushed, and then their three protectors stood before the opening ready to 35 y 36 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS ih break the heads of any who should dare to come within range of their ox-goads. * At this juncture the police — who in India, as elsewhere, are prone to show up, if not too late for the fray altogether, at least not until most of the mischief has 'been done — put in an appearance, and charged through the noisy rabble to the centre of the disturbance. ' Ah ! ha ! ' exclaimed the sergeant, with a sigh of profound relief, * here come the bobbies. They'll take the job off our hands.' Realising that the combined force of policemen and soldiers was quite beyond their powers, the natives ceased their clamour, and sullenly separated, leaving the way clear for the departure of the boys from their haven of refuge. By a fortunate coincidence, just at this moment Professor Orde appeared, hot, breathless, and concerned. He had gone on for some distance before he missed the boys, and had been anxiously looking for them in another direction, when the noise of the riot reached his ears. Fearing that Hugh and Ralph were somehow involved, he had hurried to the spot, and was now immensely relieved to find them safe and unharmed. Having duly thanked the artillerymen for their gallant services, and the police for doing their duty, he made haste out of the market. * What started it all ? ' he asked so soon as they o come idia, as late for of the ce, and ntre of sigh of '11 take cemen •s, the irated, 2 boys oment , and stance iously ■ noise rhand ied to find their duty, ; they had do?' HUNTING THE GAVIAL got seated in the cars. 'What did 37 you - * Why, nothing that I know of,' responded Ralph in rather an injured tone. * They just all went crazy at once, and wanted to kill us.' ., ' Oh, but you must have given offence in some way, however innocendy,' returned the Professor. Could it have been what you did to that queer little animal which pushed itself between us.?' suggested Hugh, who had been thinking over the affair. * What animal ? ' inquired the Professor. ' What was it like ? ' Hugh then described it, and as he spoke the hVht came into Professor Orde's mind. '^ 'Oh,' he exclaimed, 'I understand it all now That was one of their sacred bulls, and they were ^ enraged at your treating it with contempt. Now ■ let that teach you a lesson, boys. The Hindoos J cannot endure anything that looks like cruelty to anmials. They never eat a morsel of meat, and they are particularly touchy about their cattle, so, after this, respect their feelings on that point, and you'll nave no more trouble.' Tlie boys promised to remember, although Ralph thought the Hmdoo natives very absurd. I 'Fancy doing without meat,' he said, with a superior smile >st because you don't know what cattle are good for.' 7^ 38 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS I A few days later the Professor, having completed his business at Bombay, announced that the next move would be to go to the Jumna river in quest of gavials, as the local crocodiles are called. The journey across India from west to east was a great disappointment to the boys. They expected to be entertained by the sight of luxuriant forests, groves of waving palms, paradises of plantations, and endless numbers of men and animals, all looking very picturesque ; but instead of this, after they had climbed over the Western Ghauts and come out upon the great plateau which extends north clean to Calcutta, the country through which the railway ran was as uninteresting as could be imagined. On every side it stretched out as level as a billiard- table, dry and parched under the all-pervading heat, and for the most part utterly destitute of trees. There were no villages, nor even houses of any account ; no lakes nor ponds ; no vegetation nor flowers ; no animals, except a few herds of buffalo and zebu. ' What a dreadful country to live in ! ' exclaimed Hugh, throwing himself back into his seat with disgust, after having been staring out at it for a long time. ' I believe I'd go crazy if I had to stay here a year.' Professor Orde smiled at his fervour. * That's what you think now in the dry season,' he said, * but if you saw it after the rains, when these HUNTING THE GAVIAL 39 npleted le next 1 quest t was a cpected forests, ns, and \g very :y had It upon ^an to ^ay ran 1. On (illiard- g heat, of any Dn nor buffalo laimed t with ; for a :o stay eason, 1 these • M thirsty and barren plains blossom like a garden, you might form a different opinion.' ' May be so,' assented Hugh ; ' but I'll be glad when we've got to the end of them, all the same.* After riding through two chilly nights and one hot and dusty day, they were all greatly relieved to reach Allahabad, * the city of God,' at the junction of those great rivers, the Ganges and the Jumna. There was plenty to be seen at Allahabad, but no specimens to be secured, and they remained only one day, which they spent mainly upon the river. The larger part of the population of the city seemed to be busy washing, either themselves or their clothes. For more than a mile the river-bank was crowded with natives splashing in the muddy water. • Faugh ! — what a dirty lot these natives are ! ' exclaimed Ralph. ' That water is only fit for pigs to wallow in.' • That's just where you're out,' laughed his uncle. ' The Hindoos are really the cleanest people in the world. It's not their fault that their rivers are muddy and thick, instead of being bright and clear like ours. But they don't let that stop them. Their religion requires them to bathe often, and if they can't get clean water, they just make the best of what they have.' Another night in the train brought them to 40 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS i Nil i.h Etawah on the Jumna, and here Professor Orde made the boys happy by announcing : ' No more hot and stuffy cars for a month, you'll be glad to know. We're going to take to the water.' * Hurrah ! ' they shouted together. ' That will be immense ! ' When they saw the boat which was to be their home, they were even more pleased. It had neither style nor speed, to be sure ; but it certainly promised comfort. It was a clumsy, flat-bottomed, square- ended affair, nearly forty feet long and about a third as broad, having a single mast, and being provided with lines to tow it, poles to push it, and oars to row it, the crew consisting offive sturdy natives. A roof of grass thatch, thick enough to defy the hottest sun, covered the main parts of the boat, making a cosy shelter, which was fully appreciated by all. * Well, if this isn't just prime ! ' cried Ralph when they had got their things all settled aboard and were slipping swifdy down the river with the current. * Who'd want anything finer than this ? ' * Who would, indeed ? ' responded Hugh heartily. * It suits me right down to the ground.' The Professor was in equally good humour, because the indications of the objects of his search, the ugly gavials, being plentiful, were most promising. The Jumna being a very crooked, muddy, swift, and deep river, full of treacherous eddies, much care Orde HUNTING THE GAVIAL 41 was needed in its navigation, and the boys were filled with admiration at the skill shown by the boat- men in the management of the clumsy craft. At each bend of the river there was a wide sand- bar, and here were the gavials to be found. Before commencing proceedings against them, Professor Orde gave the boys 'a litde lecture on the difficulties of shooting such creatures. 'You see, boys,' he said, 'it's not a bit of use shooting them while they're in the water, because they sink like a stone, and you lose them. You must catch them when they're lying out upon the sand-bank, and then you must make sure of killing at the first shot, or at all events of stunning them, so that they cannot stir before somebody gets hold of them. When a gavial leaves the water for his daily sun-bath, he doesn't go rambling over the land, but cautiously lays himself down to sleep within a yard of the water's edge, head towards the stream, ready to plunge forward out of sight in the murky water at the slightest alarm. He usually sleeps with one eye open too, and if you let him get a glimpse of you, off he goes to the bottom of the river.' * Then it must be pretty hard work getting them ' remarked Hugh, who had been listening attentively. ' It is that, as you shall presently learn,' answered his uncle. 'Look at that sand-bank over there. Do you notice anything on it ? ' The boys directed their gaze thither, but saw m 42 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS nothing save a couple of muddy, misshapen logs stranded near the water's edge, and so reported. The Professor laughed. 'Look again,' he said, 'and look a little harder.* They fixed their eyes upon the bank once more with the same result. * Now watch,' he said, and, lifting his rifle, he fired at the seeming logs. Before the smoke blew away they had both vanished, doing it so quickly and so smoothly, that the boys' eager eyes scarce caught the motion. * Wel^ upon my word ! ' cried Ralph, flushing witii vexation, for he was inclined to pride himself upon the keenness of his sight. * We were nicely fooled tnat time, but I'll take care we won't be again.' * Don't make any rash pledge, young man,' said his uncle, with a smile. ' A good many things that you will come across in our hunting will turn out to be different from what they seem. It isn't only gavials that can deceive you.' Late that afternoon the boat was moored to the bank in a quiet cove, and Professor Orde prepared to secure his first specimen. A little farther on lay a long sand-bar that seemed a most likely spot for the gavials, and to this he repaired, accompanied by the boys. To dig out a sort of rifle-pit and throw up a little embankment in front was the work of a few minutes. "'^ KAI.ril. KICK1,I>-. iir Ii\Ni,lK, Kl-lllli \i|igger game, but it was not the country for that, I 48 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS ■ ' ! '^1 ^ and beyond a gazelle or two, whose dainty meat formed a welconie addition to the bill of fare, they met nothing of any size. But the pleasantest experiences must needs have an end, and Professor Orde, having satisfied his desire for gavials, of which he had obtained over two dozen, decided to exchange the river for the hills, where there would be a greater variety of hunting. Leaving the boat, with no small regret, they set out for Calcutta, stopping over a day at the holy city of Benares, the centre of Brahminism. Here the chief object of interest to them was the Doorga Khond, or Monkey Temple, situated just outside the city, As they approached the temple they saw the monkeys sitting gravely on the stone walls, or chasing each other up and down the trees ; and Ralph, pointing at them, said laughingly : ' Behold our long-lost brothers, Hugh! Doesn't your heart warm to them ? ' ' Not by a long chalk ! ' retorted Hugh stoutly. ' Darwin may be all right, but so long as I am a man I refuse to play big brother to a monkey.' Their uncle laughed at them. ' There's a wonderful lot of human nature in a monkey,' he said, * and these you are going to see are not so very much lower in intelligence than some people that inhabit this world.' IN THE MONKEY TEMPLE 49 They had now come to the temple, which was a very simple affair, with a wide paved yard sur- rounded by a high stone wall furnished all around with nrches and shelves for the accommodation of the monkeys. Buying from the priests at the entrance a quantity of grain — a kind of chicken-pea that the monkeys liked — they stepped inside, and immediately there was a grand rush towards them of monkeys of all ages and sizes eager to be fed. The differences of character shown were no less interesting than amusing. Some were impudent rascals that snatched at the grain and tried to get away with handfuls at a time, cramming it into their cheek pouches as they ran, while others showed timidity, and would not take it out of the boys' hands, waiting until it was thrown on the pavement, when they scrambled for it in lively fashion. In this struggle, just as it often happens in the world of ' humans,' might was right, and the bigger ones got the lion's share. ' I'm going to get some more grain just to give it to those little fellows,' said Hugh, whose chivalric spirit was roused by the way these had been shoved aside ; and he hurried back to the entrance. Meanwhile Professor Orde and Ralph went on to look at the tank which adjoined the enclosure, and contained some big • muggers,' or sacred crocodiles. When Hugh returned with a fresh supply of grain 5° THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS li- the monkeys made another rush at him just as if they had had nothing before, and the big fat fellows, of course, were in the front. ' No, you rascals ; not a speck are you going to get this time,* called Hugh, waving his hand for them to get out of the way of those behind. But they grinned, and winked, and jabbered at him without showing the slightest sign of heeding, so he tried throwing the grain o their heads. They were too quick for him, however ; their sharp eyes followed his every motion, and ere the grain reached the stones they flung themselves after it, driving the little fellows farther back, where they huddled together, whining pitifully, as though to say : 'There's no chance for us. Those big bullies get it all, and we are so hungry.* Determined to carry his point, Hugh now pushed his way through the big fellows, and flung handfuls right amongst the little chaps. But again the quick- ness of the former foiled his good intentions, and at last, getting angry, he rushed at them, shouting fiercely : ' Get out of the way, you greedy brutes ! Give the others a show. You have had more than your share already.' He had counted upon them giving way before him at once ; but he was greatly mistaken. Instead of being frightened they suddenly became angry, • I I IN THE MONKEY TEMPLE SI and gathered about him with harsh menacing cries. Not realising his danger, he shoved the nearest one away with his foot, exclaiming : * Be off with you ! I'm done with you.' Instantly the creature, with a shrill shriek of rage, sprang at him, and would have fastened its teeth in his arm had he not warded it off with a well-aimed blow of his fist. But It quickly returned to the attack, and some of the others followed suit, so that in another moment poor Hugh was the centre of a mob of screaming, biting monkeys, whose vicious endeavours to bite and scratch he vigorously strove to repel. Now, the monkey holds second rank in sacredness only to the Brahmin bull in the eyes of the Hindoos ; and although there were priests near at hand, not one of them would go to Hugh's assistance, because they thought the monkeys must be punishing him for some wrong-doing. He had been in many a fierce football scrimmage, and knew how to take care of himself under such circumstances, but this combined assault of the monkeys was something entirely different. Shouting at the top of his voice for the Professor, he did battle with his nimble assailants, striking out with closed fists, kicking from right to left, and throwing them from him by sudden wrenches of his body. ^r Hf) n 52 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS Considering their number, and the fury of their attack, it was wonderful how well he succeeded in defending himself; but they were beginning to prove too much for him, and had already inflicted several painful bites, when, in the nick of time, his uncle and Ralph, having heard his cries for help, came running up armed with stout sticks. At the same moment the priests hurried over, not to aid Hugh, but to protect their precious monkeys ; and it was evident that an exciting crisis had been reached. .1 CHAPTER VI AFTER BIG GAME 4 'i^!. TH E moment the Professor and Ralph reached Hugh they proceeded to lay about them with their sticks, and in a trice the monkeys were scattered, smarting and shrieking. But no sooner had this been accomplished than they found themselves faced by a knot of priests, angry at the rough treatment given the sacred pets. Their words were no more intelligible than the monkeys' gibbering, but there was no mistaking the hostile expression of the dark countenances nor the menacing gestures of their sinewy arms. Professor Orde, however, was not dismayed. He knew what kind of oil to throw upon these troubled waters that their fury might be stayed, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, he brought it out again full of small silver coins. * Here ! ' he said, holding them out to the priests. • We are sorry we had to hurt the monkeys, but this will buy them plenty of grain to soothe their 53 f II 54 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS il ; injured feelings, and leave something over for your- selves. Is it all right? ' Of course they could not follow what he said, but they understood readily enough the offer of money, and at once the savage look left their faces, and they became all smiles, while the oldest of them, making a gracious salaam, opened his palms to receive the donation. The Professor emptied his hand, returned the salaam, and saying, * Come along now, boys, we've seen enough of the monkeys for one day,' took them by the arms and hastened out of the temple. On examination Hugh was found to have suffered a number of bites, but none of them, happily, had broken the skin, so that there was no danger of inflammation, and they were all much relieved that he got off without more serious injury. ' There, now, you've had another lesson in taking care to avoid running up against the religious notions of these people,' remarked the Professor, as they made their way back to the hotel. * Neither Brahmin bulls, nor grey monkeys, and in some cases crocodiles, must be harmed. But I confess I'd like to pick out a dozen of the biggest of those monkeys for specimens. We're not likely to find such fine fellows in the woods when we come to a place where it is safe to kill them.' The following day, as they were making some purchases in the bazaar, they met with a sacred •if AFTER BIG GAME 55 the I if ..■■» i. creature of a different kind, which they agreed in voting even more objectionable than the big Brahmin bull that came stalking along the narrow street, crushing through the crowd of bargainers, and thrusting his fat, moist nose into one basket of grain after another just as if he were the official sampler. ' The idea of putting up with such an insolent brute ! ' indignantly exclaimed Hugh, who had a fine sense of propriety. * I'd just like to have the job of teaching him manners.' But before long they had cause to wonder whether this provoking animal were really worse than the specimens of their own kind that they encountered. They were standing before a stall where the Professor was chaffering with the salesman for a handsomely decorated knife, when there suddenly appeared beside them the most repulsive representative of humanity they had ever beheld. He was taller than the Professor, and so lank and bony that you could count every rib. He had no vestige of clothing save a filthy waistcloth of the scantiest size. His tangled beard, clogged with dirt, came far down his hairy breast, while his matted locks, resembling untwisted hemp ropes, fell over his scrawny shoulders. His body was posi- tively mangy, and his hands and feet ended in long, black claws that were revoltingly vulture-like. In one hand he held a long, heavy staff, and I r^ 56 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS in the other a piece of cocoanut shell, which he silently thrust into the faces of the people, demand- ing their alms just as if it were a privilege to contribute. By a common impulse Hugh and Ralph clapped their hands to their noses and turned away in disgust ; but Professor Orde, having better control of his feelings, dropped an anna into the fakir's shell, saying : * There you are, and if you'd promise me to go and take a bath and get a haircut I'd double the amount.' Which to him unintelligible promise the fakir acknowledged with a surly grunt. They had with them their special servant, a bright little Eurasian that the Professor had picked up because of his acquaintance with many of the dialects of India ; and when the mendicant had passed on, Pedro explained, with a contemptuous snicker : ' That Hindoo holy man. He never wash he-self. All same one pig.' ' He certainly lives in the odour of sanctity,' said the Professor ; * but I think I prefer the kind of parsons who believe that cleanliness is next to godliness.' As the hot season was coming on, Professor Orde thought it a good time to direct his course southward, where, among the Neilgherry Hills, that J AFTER BIG GAME 57 to isor rse hat '■"ii J if. V -»(» t paradise of sportsmen, he would find specimens without number and a grand climate. Accordingly, after a long, hot railway ride to Calcutta and a pleasant steamer trip down the coast to Madras, they proceeded thence overland to Ootacamund, the capital of the Neilgherry district, the fashionable resort of Southern India, and the head-quarters of the sportsmen who come after the big game, in which the hills abound. ' Now, my boys,' said he, when they had got comfortably settled in a snug hotel and had done justice to a delicious dinner, ' we'll soon be right in the thick of things. In the dense forests which encircle the Neilgherries there are elephants, tigers, bears, bison, hyenas, elk, and deer, while higher up in the jungle are sambur stags, foxes, jackals, por- cupines, and black monkeys galore ; and I don't intend to leave here until I've bagged some first- class specimens of them all — so you see we've got our work cut out for us.* 'Hurrah!' cried the twins in the same breath. ' That's splendid ! What a glorious time we'll have ! ' ' I hope it may prove so, indeed,' responded their micle, looking upon them with proud affection ; • but remember — there'll be lots of danger, and you must promise me always to obey orders.' * We promise ! We promise ! ' they cried sincerely enough, for they felt so happy and grateful that fit ii 58 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS they were ready to do anything for their beloved uncle, who was so much more to them than anybody else in the world. Barring mishaps, the prospects for a good time were certainly as bright as could be wished The Neilgherry climate is renowned for its excellence, being neither too hot nor too cold at any season, the country is green and fresh all the year round, and the scenery either softly beautiful or precipi- tously grand. The soil is very rich, producing the finest fruits and vegetables to be had in India — mangoes, plantains, oranges, pineapples, and pears being as plentiful as possible ; while of potatoes, cabbages, and cauliflowers, celery, radishes, peas, lettuce, and similar 'garden truck,' there is always a bewildering variety, so that the travellers' table was sure to be temptingly spread so long as they remained in that region. The Indian bison being the first object of Professor Orde's quest, he, on the advice of a veteran shikaree whose acquaintance he made at Ootacamund, organised his party, and proceeded to the great Wainad Forest, a little to the north- west of the Neilgherry plateau, which was a famous hunting-ground for big game. The camping outfit was loaded upon the backs of a number of scrubby little pack-ponies, and, riding upon somewhat superior steeds, while tlieir servants trotted along on foot, the Professor and the boys i AFTER BIG GAME 59 t of 1 1 of a e at S 4 eded .4 Drth- nous ',:■' ts of ding • Hi!' ants '% )oys ii travelled by easy stages to Karkhana, the head- quarters of the Mudumattay Forest Reserve, where there was a good Government bungalow, the use of which they had secured. * Here we are, my lads ! ' exclaimed the Professor, as they drew up their ponies before the bungalow, where a fine-looking native stood ready to give them courteous welcome. ' This will be our hotel while we stay here, and, from the look of things, we should have no difficulty in being tolerably comfortable.' The boys quite agreed with him when they saw the clean, spacious rooms of the bungalow, with its cool, convenient bathroom, and in the best of spirits they made haste to take possession. Bright and early the next morning they began the hunt. A couple of expert trackers from the neighbouring village had been engaged, and these Kurumbers showed a degree of skill that surprised even the Professor. It was not long before a fresh bison trail was found, and the way the trackers followed it through long thin grass and over hard ground filled the boys with wonder. They glided rapidly yet noiselessly along, with their eyes fixed upon the ground, save when occasionally raised for a quick piercing glance ahead. On they went, up hill and down dale, the trail freshening rapidly as they advanced, but the bison 6o THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS < I i ^ still remaining invisible, until the boys' legs and lungs began to feel the strain. ' Oh dear ! ' cried Ralph, who had insisted on being his own gun-bearer so that he might be ready to shoot on the instant, and who had now repented his little conceit, but was to proud to admit it. ' I wish that old chap wouldn't hump it along at such a rate. My wind's about used up already.' * I guess you find your rifle's a little heavier than you thought, don't you?' answered Hugh, with a meaning smile that deepened the colour on Ralph's cheeks and made him retort warmly : * Not a bit of it, but my legs are not as long as that old camel's, and if he'd go a little slower it would be more to my liking.' Just as he spoke the Kurumber came to a sudden halt, and his example was instantly followed by the rest of the party. For a breathless moment there seemed to be absolute silence, and then came a sound that set every pulse beating furiously. It was the trampling of many heavy hoofs and the deep breathing of mighty lungs. * Kahtee, sahib ! Kahtee ! ' was the tawny tracker's sibilant, excited whisper to Professor Orde ; and th'' next instant a whole herd of bison hove 'n ght, coming towards the hunters over the b of the hill. f j CHAPTER VII A BRUSH WITH A BISON the be set ling of ^ht, the i 'i % THE herd of bison advanced at a brisk trot until within about a hundred yards, when, becoming aware of the presence of danger, they wheeled suddenly to the right, and dashed along like a company of cavalry on the review- ground. It was a splendid though fleeting vision of massive heads, huge white horns, high humps, brown sides, and mighty legs all white from the knee down. And the boys stood spellbound. • My word ! ' cried Ralph, when, having lowered their heads, humped their backs, and redoubled their speed, the great creatures swept out of sight. 'Did you ever see the like of that? I'm mighty glad they didn't take it into their heads to rush at us, or we'd have been goners, sure.' ' You're just right!' heartily responded Hugh, who had instinctively brought his rifle to his shoulder, and then let it drop again, with a smile at his own 6i f w T 62 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS i 1 action. ' They certainly are splendid animals, and it must be no joke to kill them.' ' Come along boys ! ' called their uncle at this moment. ' Put your best feet foremost. We must follow them up.' The old Kurumber had already started off, and they hastened after him, Ralph quite forgetting his weariness in the excitement of the chase. Half-an-hour of rapid walking brought them once more in sight of the herd moving quietly along through the open forest not more than a furlong distant. ' Careful, now,' whispered the Professor. ' We must get closer before we fire.' Taking advantage of the trees, they crept towards the big fellows, whose constant movements made the stalking of them somewhat easier. The boys were filled with admiration at the way the native tracker got over the ground. No cat could have made less noise. He seemed more like a shadow than a thinsf of flesh and bones as he glided from tree-trunk to tree-trunk, the others following him as silently as they could manage. Had the bison been standing still, they must have heard the crunch of the leather-shod feet, but they were making sufficient noise with their own broad hoofs to drown the other noise, so that the hunters were able to get within a hundred yards of them unsuspected. A BRUSH WITH A BISON 63 his lUSt icir that rds Waving the boys back, Professor Orde crawled forward a little, and then, selecting the biggest bull, took fair aim at him behind the shoulder, and fired. The instant the report rang out the bison threw up their heads, sniffed fiercely, and, with tossing horns and swinging tails, galloped off like mad. But there was one exception. The Professor's bullet had reached its mark, and, although mortally wounded, the king of the herd remained to have it out with his assailants instead of taking to flight. He presented an awe-inspiring sight as, having located them through his bloodshot eyes, he lowered his massive head, and came thundering down in full charge. ' Look out, boys ! ' cried Professor Orde. ' Get behind trees quickly.' The Kurumber had already taken a safe position, and the others made haste to follow suit ; but the wily old bull was not to be evaded by such simple tactics as those. The trees stood a little apart, the ground beneath them was smooth, and, filled with murderous fury, the great creature set himself to make a victim of one of the hunters ere his own end came. The agility with which he dodged and doubled was amazing. Pausing a moment until he had made sure of the position of one of the quartet, he would gather himself for a headlong dash that brought him bang up against the tree behind which the hated foe 11 } i 64 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS I! I I i was sheltering. The resounding thud of the impact of his huge horns against the solid wood sent a thrill through the boys as it smote upon their ears, and they were profoundly thankful that they were not the object struck. * Hoop-de-dooden ! ' exclaimed Ralph, when the bison had just charged against his tree. ' Wouldn't that jar a fellow if it hit him ? He certainly is a stunner ! ' This time the maddened brute was stunned him- self, and, after his collision with the unyielding trunk, he rolled over, to all appearances dead. It was characteristic of Ralph that, instead of waiting for the tracker or his uncle to make sure, he should rush out from behind the tree, shouting exultingly, 'Hurrah! he's done for!' and in the excess of his recklessness spring upon the still heaving body ere the Professor could check him. The instant the bull felt the touch of his feet he rose up, flinging the rash boy to the ground, and, with an appalling bellow, endeavoured to crush him beneath his terrible horns. The situation was critical in the extreme. Hugh cried out in an agony of apprehension, and, darting forward, fired his rifle into the bison's flank at such close range that the powder burned the hairy hide. No less prompt to the rescue was the Professor, who let fly at the animal's head, hoping the bullet would reach his brain. I I A BRUSH WITH A BISON 65 the ugh irting such hide. *, who ^ould But neither shot produced any immediate effect, not even distracting the creature's attention from Ralph, whose Hfe seemed surely forfeited. He had the sense to lie perfectly still, making no attempt to get away, and having been fortunate enough to fall between the outspreading roots of a tree into a kind of hollow which was wide enough to admit his slight frame, but too narrow for the massive horns of the bison, he for a moment managed to evade the furious efforts of his assailant to crush the life out of him. The broad muzzle of the bull, dripping with foam, brushed his very face, and its hot reeking breath well-nigh suffocated him ; yet he retained control of his senses, and, with all the strength of his lungs, cried : ' Shoot him ! Shoot him, for pity's sake ! ' Meanwhile Professor Orde was shouting words of encouragement and direction. ' Keep close, Ralph ! Don't move ! He can't touch you. You'll be free in a few minutes.' And the tracker danced about, prodding the bison in the hind-(^ irters with his light spear. The vitality of the beast was certainly astounding. His wounds seemed to have no other effect than to enrage him, until the Professor, rather than wait to thrust another cartridge into his rifle, drew his revolver and emptied the cylinder into the huge body as fast as he could pull the trigger. 5 ^ 66 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS f '^ One bullet at least evidently reached the bison's heart. He threw up his great head, gave forth a thunderous bellow that died away into a significant gurgle, and after one more effort to reach his fallen foe, shuddered through his mighty frame, looked all about in pitiful despair, and rolled over beside Ralph, this time dead beyond all peradventure. In an instant Hugh had sprung to his brother and lifted him to his feet. • Are you much hurt, Ralph ? ' he cried, with quavering voice ; for he was one who felt deeply, although he was so quiet in his ways. As he spoke he put his arms around Ralph and looked eagerly into his face. Ralph shook himself before replying. He did not just know what injuries he had suffered, and he was in such a mess from the bison's slobbering over him that he thought there must be something wrong with him. ' I'm not quite sure, Hugh,' he answered, feeling his arms and chest. ' I thought the brute must have got his horns into me somewhere, but I can't just find the spot.' ' Oh, you're all right, my boy ! ' exclaimed his uncle, patting him affectionately on the shoulder. ' You were more frightened than hurt, weren't you ? You may be deeply grateful to that hollow into which you had the good luck to fall. But for it you would have had precious little life left in you now. A BRUSH WITH A BISON 67 mg ou? into you ow. The next time you try to dance on a half-killed bison you may not get off so well, sir.' Ralph flushed at the implied reproof, which he felt to be so richly deserved. ' I did act the fool, and no mistake,' he frankly confessed ; ' but you won't catch me doing it again. They talk about a cat having nine lives, but I wonder how many this fellow had. A cat wouldn't be in it with him.' The bison was a superb specimen, and Professor Orde rejoiced at having secured him. With the aid of the tracker he at once set about the not very pleasant business of separating the skin and head from the body ; and while they were thus engaged the boys went off to a near-by pool, where Ralph cleansed himself and his clothing as best he could. 'This is the real thing, isn't it, Hugh?' he exclaimed, clapping his brother on the back. * It's what I call big hunting, and we're going to have lots of it too. Aren't you just longing for the first sight of a wild elephant or a tiger ? ' 'I am that,' responded Hugh heartily; 'though I'm sure I don't know what I'll do to them when I do meet them.' • Oh, that doesn't signify,' laughed Ralph. ' We'll leave all that to uncle. The thing is to come across them and get within shooting distance.' When the Professor had completed the task, the bison's remains were safely stowed away out of I 68 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS I » reach of wild animals, and then they all returned to the village, whence bearers were sent out under the guidance of the tracker to bring their trophy into the bungalow. The day's excitement and exertion had tired them all, and they thoroughly relished the excellent dinner prepared for them by their servants under the direction of Pedro, and the long, lazy evening in the warm soft air. * To-morrow we'll go farther into the forest,' said the Professor, who was enjoying his post-prandial pipe, ' and we'll stay there for the night. There are things to be seen then that you can't see at any other time, and I don't want to miss anything, if I can help it.' * No, indeed ! ' exclaimed Ralph, as earnestly as if he also had a scientific interest in their proceed- ings, but in reality because the idea of spending the night in the heart of the forest with wild animals all around seemed to him immensely attractive. ' Shall we take tents with us ? ' asked the practical Hugh, who always liked to know the details of their plans. 'Oh, certainly,' responded his uncle. 'We'll have a regular little camp, and perhaps stay for several days.' M i h i -i CHAPTER VIII A THRILLING COMBAT THE following morning was taken up with preparations for their expedition, and when the heat of the day had somewhat moderated they set forth, Professor Orde and the boys riding upon shaggy, wiry ponies, that certainly were not much to look at, but which proved surefooted and enduring little steeds. The same old Kurumber was their guide, and, with their retinue of servants (for in India it' takes four men to do what in the white men's country is done by one), they made up quite an imposing party. They were all in high spirits, the Professor being sanguine of securing some fine specimens and the boys expectant of abundant adventure. Nor was there much likelihood of their being disappointed. It was close to sundown ere they reached the place their guide had selected, and they were at once ready to praise him for his choice of a camping- ground. A lovely little glade, with a spring of cool, clear water bubbling out of its midst and the great Ii i ' 70 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS trees towering up all around, it was fit for a fairy abode, and Hugh, who had a quick eye for natural beauty, gave a gasp of delight as he cried : 'What a lovely spot! I'd like to camp here for a month.* His uncle laughed at his enthusiasm. ' Perhaps you would, and perhaps you wouldn't, Hugh,' he said. ' It's by no means just the para- dise it appears, but we shall have a good time here while we stay, I've not the least doubt.' By the time the tents were pitched and dinner, for which they all had famous appetites, was pre- pared, it was too late to do any hunting, so they strolled around the camp or chatted about the prospects of the coming day, until Professor Orde, saying that they had better get as good a night's rest as possible, announced it was time to be turning in. They had been asleep perhaps for an hour when they were aroused by a commotion which caused the Professor to spring out of bed and seize his rifle under the impression that the camp was being attacked. The horses they had ridden, and the bullocks that carried their camping outfit, and which were picketed about the glade, were neighing and bellowing in wild excitement, while their grooms and other servants ran to quiet them, or huddled together in terrified groups. t A THRILLING COMBAT 71 ' What's the matter ? ' demanded the Professor, as, lightly attired in his pyjamas, and followed by the boys in similar costume, he strode up to the nearest group. • The tiger ! the tiger ! ' whimpered one of the men, cowering close to his companions as if he saw the dreaded animal near at hand. ' Where ? Where ? ' the Professor exclaimed, glancing about him with eager eyes, and feeling a certain thrill of apprehension. But this question no one could answer. The roar of a great tiger had been heard in proximity to the camp, accompanied by the bellowing of a bull bison, and that was all the panic-stricken men could tell. But no more was necessary on their part, for the next moment the mingled roar and bellow again broke forth in appalling fashion, causing the men to shudder in terror and the animals to strive to break away from their picket-ropes. ' I understand it all/ said Professor Orde, his face lighting up. ' It's a duel between a bison and a tiger, and we must see it. Get into your clothes as quickly as possible, boys.' The alacrity with which the order was obeyed may be readily imagined, and in a trice they were ready with their rifles in hand. Selecting the two least terrified servants to carry extra guns for an emergency, and commanding the \ ? .\.l II 7* THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS Kurumber to lead the way, the Professor set forth, with Hugh and Ralph following close. They soon came to the dense cover from which the sounds of the conflict were evidently issuing, and entered it by means of a narrow deer-run. Here they could not make rapid progress, as they had to separate the tangled brushwood with one hand, while holding their rifles ready for prompt use in the other. The uproar ahead was sufficient guide, and presently they reached an opening in the forest, which, to their great satisfaction, proved to be the arena of the strife. A flood of moonlight made this glade almost as bright as day, and well in the centre stood a splendid bull bison manifestly in a state of tremendous excitement. ' Isn't he grand ? * panted Ralph, breathless from his exertions ; and the great creature certainly presented a superb spectacle as, with eyes flashing fire, tail straight on end, and foam-flecked fore- quarters, he was tearing up the turf with his hoofs, and all the while bellowing furiously. ' Let us get into the trees and we'll see the whole thing,' said the Professor in an undertone. The direction was quickly followed, and, once safely ensconced among the branches, they were as well situated as spectators in a circus. Thus far they had seen nothing of the tiger, but I i 1 I A THRILLING COMBAT 73 S, lie le IS i 4 '■i they were assured of his being near by the conduct of the bison, who, with his head kept constantly turned in one direction, was alternately cropping the grass, and giving vent to his excited feelings by a deep, reverberating bellow which seemed to awaken all the echoes of the surrounding woods. ' There he is ! I see him ! Look ! ' And, with quivering finger, the Professor pointed to a tuft of fern not many paces distant, whence issued a low, savage growling. One glance was sufficient to discover him — a veritable king of the jungle — the hugest of his kind any of those present had ever seen ; and Professor Orde's finger went instinctively to the trigger, for the securing of such a specimen would alone be sufficient reward for his trip. But the finger was withdrawn again. ' Indeed, I won't interfere,* he muttered. ' Let them fight it out between themselves. We may never see such a sight again in our lives.' Little suspecting how near to him were human enemies armed with swift death, the tiger crept cautiously upon his four-footed foe, shifting this way and that as he advanced. Noiseless as a ghost were his movements, but the wary old bull never lost sight of his foe for an instant, and followed every turn with his mighty head lowered to receive an attack. • I hope he'll win,' whispered Hugh, whose \ T 74 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS 1 1h !!/, sympathies were all with the bison, because he stood up so bravely and did not crouch upon the ground like the tiger. ' I hope he won't,' emphatically responded Ralph, who bore a grudge to the whole bison kind after his rough treatment by the bull so shortly before. * I'd just like to see him getting mighty well licked ; wouldn't you, uncle ? ' appealing to the Professor. But the latter made no reply. He felt strictly impartial. It was a matter of indifference to him which animal won so long as they did not maul each other in a way to render their skins altogether unfit for preservation, as they were both such splendid specimens of their kind. At last Mister Stripes, who had all along been whining and growling in a significant manner, stole softly forward, his big belly sweeping the turf, every hair standing on end, his flanks heaving, his back arched, and his tail lashing his sides. * He's going to spring — watch him ! ' the Professor exclaimed ; but just as he spoke the bison, antici- pating his antagonist, charged upon him at full speed, with head lowered and horns pointed upward. Only by an extremely swift shifting of his ground did the tiger escape the stroke of the massive horns, and then, after making a half-circle, he sprang high in the air, with the purpose of alighting upon the bison's broad shoulders. But his little game failed, for the bull, with an i » I A THRILLING COMBAT 75 nd agility simply amazing in so heavy and apparently clumsy a creature, evaded him by a dexterous twist, and the instant he touched ground bore down upon him, catching him behind the shoulders with his horns, and flinging him some distance away, following him to repeat the operation. But the tiger slunk away to recover himself. ' Ah, ah ! Stripes has had enough ! He's beaten ! * cried Hugh exultantly. • Not by a long chalk,' retorted Ralph, as confi- dently as if he knew the big cat's mind. * He'll be back in the ring again. You'll see. He's just been winded a little.' Ralph was right enough. While the bull bellowed and pawed the ground proudly the tiger was resting, and soon he returned to the attack. Then followed some hard fighting, of which the bison seemed to be getting the best, as he gener- ally succeeded in meeting the rushes of the tiger on his impregnable forehead and horns, and in tossing his antagonist some distance away bruised and breathless. Yet the issue still hung in doubt, for the tiger, by a clever spring, managed to fasten on the bull's brawny shoulder, and the excited spectators could hear the crunching sound of his teeth meeting in the tough flesh, while the keen claws made terrible gashes in the muscular flanks. Hugh began to fear for his champion, but, with I i ■I 76 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS an awful shriek of mingled pain and anger, the big fellow flung himself heavily upon the ground, well- nigh crushing his nimble adversary to death beneath his great body ; and the tiger, completely winded, did his best to slink away with his tail between his legs. 'Hurrah for the bull!' shouted Hugh. 'He's going to beat — see if he isn't ! ' Ralph made no response. The bison was fighting so splendidly that, in spite of his hard feelings towards the whole family, he found himself being drawn over to his side, but he did not want to confess it. ' It will soon be over now,' said the Professor. ' They're both near the end of their tether.' Following up his advantage, the bull charged the tiger again, and at last, getting him against a bank of earth, pounded him with his huge horns until he lay motionless, when suddenly he leapt upon him with his whole weight, and so extinguished the last lingering spark of life. The conqueror stood over his dead foe for a moment with heaving flanks, and the crimson foam dropping from his wide nostrils, while he gave vent to thunderous rumblings of triumph. Then he staggered a few paces backward, bellow- ing in futile rage at his fast ebbing strength. He had conquered, indeed, but his own life was the price of victory. ies A THRILLING COMBAT 77 His legs sank beneath him, he gave forth one surly groan of despair, and. after a gallant effort to recover himself, rolled over beside his already lifeless antagonist. 'Too bad !' exclaimed Hugh, with an unmistak- able sob in his voice. ' He shouldn't have died.' M ) CHAPTER IX A PERILOUS MOMENT WITH the spell of the wonderful spectacle they had witnessed still upon them, Professor Orde and the boys returned to camp, leaving the servants to look after the remains of the mighty dead. In the morning they returned to find them untouched, and the heads and skins were carefully removed to form, in course of time, when skilfully set up, one of the most effective groups in the University Museum. ' And what do you intend going after now ? ' Ralph asked during breakfast. * More buffaloes or tigers ? ' ' No,' answered the Professor. ' I think I'll see if I can't get a good sambur stag, or maybe an elephant. They're both to be found about here if you know where to look for them, and we'll take the whole day to it.' They set out with the old Kurumber as guide, 78 Isec if |c an :re if take luidc, I A PERILOUS MOMENT 79 and quite a little party of gun-bearers and servants carrying provisions, etc. ' Wouldn't we do better if we had some dogs ? ' asked Hugh, to whom the idea of deer-hunting without hounds seemed strange. Professor Orde smiled at the question. ' The best dogs in the world would be of little use here,' he said. * You couldn't keep them a week. There are too many ways of their being killed, and they'd be of small service at best. These trackers, like our old fellow, can follow a scent as well as a dog, and they know ever so much better how to take care of themselves.' Pushing in through the forest at a steady pace, with the Kurumber in the lead, they kept a sharp look-out on every side for game large or small, it being Professor Orde's principle that a bird in the hand was always worth several in the bush, and as practically everything wearing fur or feathers had some value as a specimen, he lost no opportunities for a shot. Consequently, although he had elephants on his mind, when, as they made their way through the forest, the tracker suddenly stopped and pointed out a fine sambur staer standin<'-, with head erect and antlers thrown back, as motionless as a bronze statue not more than one hundred yards away, he at once gave the signal for stillness and silence. ' Wc must get that fellow. 1 Ic's a beauty ! ' \ui ^1 8o THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS li I! whispered ; and in obedience to his directions they all hid behind the trees while he considered the best line of advance. The stag seemed unconscious of their nearness, yet, of course, at any minute might spring away, and the Professor did not want to risk a shot until he could get the aim that was necessary to make sure work. Bidding the others remain perfectly still, he crept silently forward, his movements being concealed by the tree-trunks, until he had got within fifty yards of the motionless animal. Then, stepping into full view, he raised his rifle, and pulled trigger just as the stag, startled by his appearance, bounded forward, exposing his whole side to view. To his profound disgust no report followed the snapping of the trigger. The shell had failed to explode, and, with an exclamation of anger, he made haste to throw out and replace it with another. But quick as was the action of his practised hands, the movement of the stag was still more rapid, and he would in another instant have got clear away untouched had not Hugh, always quick to grasp a situation, although not so hasty of speech or action as Ralph, thrown his rifle to his shoulder and let drive at the flying creature. It was only a snapshot, of course, but the bullet ma A PERILOUS MOMENT 8i .nds, I, and Lway Lsp a [ction Id let )ullet sped straight to its mark, striking the stag full in the shoulder Down he came with a smashed shoulder-blade, and Hugh's fortunate shot was applauded warmly. * Well done ! my boy. Well done ! ' exclaimed his uncle, clapping him on the back. * That shot was worthy of a veteran shikaree. I couldn't have done half as well myself. Come in, and we'll give the poor fellow his coup de grace.' They found the stag struggling desperately to drag himself away ; but another bullet put him out of misery, and Professor Ordc was greatly pleased on measuring him to find that he was in every way a noble specimen of his kind. Ralph was filled with envy of his brother's success, and made up his mind to try to match it at the first opportunity — not that there was an}'thing ignoble in his feeling (he bad not a mean drop of blood in his body), but he disliked being outdone in anything by Hugh, although he was content enough that they should stand upon an equality. The stag having been disijosed of, Professor Orde said : •And now let us q-ive our whole attention to elephants. The Kuruinber tells me there are some fine herds in the neighbourhood, and I am particularly anxious to secure a first-cl.'ss tusker. So we'll eive all small game the go-by uniil we've got our tusker.' An hour's rest and a hearty lunch set them up for i) i; ■' 8a THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS I further exertions, and they went for several hours with the Kurumber in the lead, diving deeper and deeper into the recesses of the vast forest. Not until late in the afternoon did they catch a sight of what they sought, and then, all a-quiver with excitement, the Kurumber pointed out to them a dark mass moving quiedy through the trees at a distance of a quarter of a mile. It was the first herd of wild elephants even the Professor had seen, and that he and the boys should be no less moved than the old tracker at the sight was not wonderful. Their rifles shook in their hands, and they realised that it would never do for them to try any shooting until they regained complete control of their nerves. * Let's go slow now, boys,' said Professor Orde in an undertone. * We must get as near as we can before firing. There's only the one place to hit, and that's their brain.' Making use of the tree-trunks as cover, they advanced with the utmost caution until they reached a spot where they could survey at their ease the herd, now come to a standstill. It consisted of ten in all — one fine old tusker, a couple of smaller ones, five females, and two babies that at once won the boys' hearts. * We mustn't hurt them, must we, Ralph ? ' Hugh whispered, as he gazed at the funny little creatures with shining eyes. rii J 1 A PERILOUS MOMENT 83 ' No, indeed,' Ralph whispered back ; ' but I wish we could catch them. Wouldn't they bo. fun as pets ? ' Some of the (;lephants were feeding on the rich grass, pulling up bit:^ bunches of it, jerking them from side to side to shake the dirt from the roots, and then curling them up into their capacious mouths ; others were throwing the dry dirt over their backs ; while others still fanned themselves with branches cleverly held in their trunks. It was such an interesting sight that the Professor felt loath to disturb it, but the sinking sun warned him that the end of day was near, and no time to be lost, so, bidding the boys remain where they were, he moved silently off with the purpose of obtaining a front head shot at the tusker. Considering that neither the old elephant nor any of his family had the slightest suspicion of danger, it was certainly remarkable how he managed to evade the Professor's efforts. Again and again did the latter stalk him most carefully, yet every time, just when the rifle was about to be raised, would he make a movement which turned his forehead away from the death- dealing tube. Ralph watched the proceedings with growing im- patience. Not fully understanding the difficulty of reaching a vital part when shooting elephants, he began to think that his uncle was altogether too » f' i 84 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS slow, and to feel eager to take a hand in the game himself. ' Why doesn't uncle let him have it ? ' he murmured, more to himself than to Hugh. 'Anyway, the elephant is big enough.* Considering the vast bulk of the animal, and the deliberation of its movements, it certainly seemed strange to any one not possessing Professor Orde's knowledge that he did not fire. The fact, however, was that it was his cardinal principle to avoid inflicting needless suffering upon the creatures he hunted in the interests of science, and consequently, rather than take a chance shot, which would perhaps fail to kill, he always perferred not firing at all. In the present case he wanted to reach the elephant's brain with his first bullet, and hence the care he was taking to get a good aim at the precise spot. The elephant's course leading farther into the forest, they all followed, the boys keeping well behind the Professor, who had the Kurumber at his heels carrying a spare rifle. At last the Professor, growing desperate, made a half-circuit, which brought him around in front of the herd, and, having at last obtained a favourable position, he was just about to fire when the old bull scented him. At once his trunk went up in the air, and there 1 . i A PERILOUS MOMENT 85 issued from it a blast, half roar, half scream, the like of which the boys had never before heard, and it made them both jump. * He's going to charge on uncle !' cried Hugh, in a tone of keen concern. * Let us go and help him ! ' But instead of doing this the elephant wheeled suddenly about and rushed in the direction of the boys at a rate of speed hardly to be e.xpected in so ponderous a creature. Ralph now thought his opportunity had come. If he could stop the tusker's flight and turn him back his uncle would have another chance to shoot him. Accordingly, without an instant's hesitation, he darted forth from his concealment, and, raising his rifle, fired point-blank at the huge dark bulk bearing down upon him, shouting with the full strength of his lungs : ' Go back there, you brute ! Go back ! ' But neither bullet nor shout had any more effect than the whirr of a mosquito. If the former hit the elephant at all it did him no great damage, and the figure of the boy obstructing was simply something to be got out of the way ruthlessly. So, before he had time to dodge aside, Ralph, to his horror, found himself encircled by the irresistible trunk, and the next instant Hung high into the branches of the near-by trees! i IT T I M CHAPTER X A NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE THE rifle dropped from Ralph's hands, and, with outspread arms, he went sailing into the thick foliage, followed by a cry of apprehension from Hugh, who was too much absorbed in watching him to fire on his own account at the disappearing elephant. By a happy chance Ralph came in contact with a stout branch, which he succeeded in grasping firmly, and so hung there unhurt, save for a few scratches in the face that were of small account. The instant he got his breath he shouted : • I'm all right. I'm not hurt. I'll be down in a jiffy.' And with a degree of agility worthy of a monkey, he swung himself from branch to branch until near enough to the ground to drop the rest of the way. Hugh rushed up with face expressing vast relief, and, passing his hands over him to make sure that no bones were broken, exclaimed : 86 Ill . A NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE 87 ' Thtit was a narrow escape, Ralph ! And you're not hurt at all, except for your scratched face. Isn't that lucky ? ' Ralph shook himself laughingly as he responded : ' I felt sure I was done for when the old chap got his trunk around me. I never thought he was only going to play baseball with me. Didn't he give me a throw } ' In the meantime Professor Ordc had been hurrying towards them, and the elephants made good their escape into the depths of the forest. The Professor had seen Ralph's aerial flight, and was filled with anxiety, which the boys' merry countenances quickly dispelled. •You've had a rare experience, Ralph,' he said, throwing his arm affectionately around him. * It's not many that have survived the embrace of a wild elephant's trunk. The old tusker certainly showed you unexpected mercy, and now that he's got away we'll have to leave him alone for to-night. It's time we were putting back to camp.' The Kurumber was accordingly directed to steer for the camp, the now wearied and hungry hunters impressing upon him the importance of reaching it by as short a route as possible. On and on they walked through the rapidly lessen- ing light, sometimes passing through patches of high, dense grass, in one of which they found the remains of a recent * kill ' by a tiger — to wit, the freshly picked r "^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) // ^^ .<^k^ 1.0 I.I 11.25 H |;o 1 2.0 1.8 ^ IllllJi^ V <^ /; Photographic Sciences Btion 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ N5§ \ V \\ <^ C^ ^ <^ <^*. <> ~^ Ar y^ .Wd. W I ►I f *l> 88 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS skeleton of a sambur stag — and sometimes through open forest, where the way was easy. Yet no sign of camp appeared. On the contrary, the features of the country seemed altogether strange, and the suspicion which had been growing upon the Professor's mind became a certainty. * Do you know where you are ? ' he demanded of the tracker. * I don't believe you do.' The old fellow salaamed and shuffled, and mut- tered something unintelligible, but at last, being driven to answer, admitted that he had lost his way, and that they would have to spend the night in the jungle. Here was a pretty kettle of fish. They had neither blankets, matches, nor food, not even a chopper to cut down branches to make a fire and build a hut for protection ; and the prospect of spending a night there in the midst of a region swarming with wild beasts was by no means alluring. Professor Orde was highly indignant. He stormed at the Kurumber, and even threatened to thrash him soundly, but the cringing creature looked so sorry himself that he forbore, although he certainly deserved a taste of the stick. ' Well, I suppose there's no help for it, and we must make the best of the situation,' said the Professor, curbing his wrath. * Let us look out a place where we will be as sheltered as possible.' After a litde search they found a spot that seemed f A NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE 89 well suited to their purpose. It was a snug little dell surrounded by big trees, and having a dry soft turf that would serve to sleep on. All hands set to work to gather wood, and by diligent seeking quite a goodly pile of branches was got together. * Now, then, we can have a fire any way,' said the Professor ; * but we shall have to be content with a small one. The supply of fuel is not what it might be.' When the fire was burning brighdy the aspect of affairs became more cheerful, and if they had only had something substantial for supper Hugh and Ralph, at any rate, would not have so much minded spending the night in the jungle. Professor Orde was too cross with the Kurumber to take things philosophically. He was paying the old fellow high wages, and consequently looked for better service from him, and he felt strongly tempted to give him a good dose of the stick for his stupidity. They talked for some time around the fire, and then the boys tried to get to sleep, but this they found difficult of accomplishment. The great forest, so quiet during the day, now resounded and re- echoed with noises — the sharp, piercing notes of nocturnal birds swifdy huntini;- their prey ; the shrill chattering of monkeys swarming in the branches overhead, and aroused to lively curiosity by tht gleam of the fire ; the sonorous blast of the sambur : w III l^i.i H 11! 90 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS stag summoning the dutiful does, or challenging a rival to fierce combat ; and, rising above all, with its blood-curdling thunder, the roar of the king of the jungle in quest of a victim. ' I hope Mr. Stripes doesn't mean to make us a call to-night,' said Hugh, with a little shiver. * His company is not at all desirable, is it, Ralph ? ' ' Oh, I don't know,' responded Ralph, with a fine air of unconcern. * We three ought to be a match for any old tiger — eh, uncle ? ' * I suppose we should if it came to the point,' the Professor answered ; 'but I confess I'm not anxious to try the experiment. I much prefer having to do with a tiger by daylight.' The fire died down and the noises somewhat abated after a while, so that the hunters, after their long day's work, grew drowsy, despite the pangs of hunger. One by one they fell asleep, and presently all three lay like logs upon the turf. An hour later they were suddenly startled into wakefulness by a shriek of terror and pain that pierced to their very marrow, and, springing to their feet, the rays of moonlight that found their way through the over-arching branches revealed a situation of horror. A huge tiger, no doubt the very one whose distant roar disturbed them earlier in the night, had crept upon the sleeping group, and, seizing b h A NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE 91 .1 the poor old Kurumber in its jaws, was about to bear him off to its lair. Another minute and the unfortunate native would have been beyond rescue. As it was, only the promptest, surest action could be of any avail. Well was it that a marked quality of Professor Orde's nature was perfect self-control in the moment of emergency. Then were his nerves high strung, his muscles like steel, and his brain clearest. He had risen, rifle in hand, and one swift glance showed him what must be done. Springing forward so as to get good aim at the brute's flank, he sent a bullet into the striped body just behind the shoulder. It went clean through the lungs, and, opening his mouth to give vent to a coughing roar of rage and fury, the tiger dropped his prey, bounded forward a few yards, then turned to face the foe. He presented an appalling sight as, with his thick hair standing out like bristles, his great eyes gleaming with dire malignity, and his tail violently thrashing the ground, he gathered himself for a spring upon the Professor. ' Another gun, quick ! ' ejaculated the Professor ; and in an instant Hugh, who was the first of the two boys to get control of himself, darted forward av ^ shoved a rifle into his hands. Catching it up and throwing it to his shoulder : ■ Iti f. > 1 [• u 92 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS with a single movement, the Professor took aim at the spot between the baleful orbs and fired. The report was followed by a frightful sound, half scream, half roar, and the terrible creature, with a mighty spring, shot through the air, and, striking Professor Orde full in the chest ere he could dodge aside, knocked him over like a nine-pin. Crying out ' God help us ! He'll kill him ! * Ralph rushed forward, and, reckless of all conse- quences to himself, swung his rifle high in the air, and brought the butt down upon the tiger's head with tremendous force. It was a well-timed blow, and proved to be the finishing one. With two such wounds as it had received any other animal than a tiger would have been already Aors de combat, but its marvellous vitality had kept it fighting fiercely u^.til Ralph's stunning stroke. The great head sank between the fore-paws, there was a convulsive twitching of the sinewy body, and then the limp stillness of death. Partly covering the Professor, who lay motionless, face downward, the king of the jungle's reign was over. Throbbing with anxiety, the boys made haste to lift away the mass of bloodstained fur and attend to their uncle. Although he was insensible, no sign of hurt appeared, and they breathed more freely. While A NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE 93 Hugh held his head rp, Ralph got water, which was dashed in the Professor's face. In a moment or two he revived, and opening his eyes, murmured : •Hullo! What's happened? Oh! I know. I was knocked out by that brute. Is he dead ? * ' Dead as a door-nail, uncle ! ' cried Ralph exult- antly. ' I finished him with the butt of my rifle.' 'Did he hurt you much?' asked Hugh, with keen concern. Professor Orde for answer rose and shook himself. He was still dizzy and shaky, but there evidently were no bones broken nor wounds in- flicted. * Why, no,' he exclaimed. ' I don't seem to have a scratch. The brute just bowled me over and banged me so hard against that root as to put me to sleep for a minute ; but I'm all right again. Come, now, let us see how it is with the Kurumber.' They found the old man lying upon the turf where the tiger had dropped him and bleeding from more than one wound. He had been caught up by the shoulder, into which the cruel teeth had sunk deep, and his injuries were decidedly serious. * If we were only at the camp I could fix the poor old chap up all right,' said the Professor ; ' but I must now do the best I can.' ( J I " ! I 1. I i 94 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS With the aid of the boys the wounds were washed and bound up after a fashion. ' If inflammation docs not set in he will pull through all rioht,' was the Professor's verdict when everything possible under the circumstances had been done ; * but we may be very thankful it is not one of us.' In which sentiment the boys, as they looked with pity upon the old man striving to bear his suffering stoically, yet showing it so plainly, heartily agreed. ^ CHAPTER XI RALPH DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF WITH the return of dawn came the problem of finding their way back to camp — a problem not any easier of solu- tion now that they were burdened by the helpless old tracker. ' I hardly know what is best to be done,' said the Professor, looking much perplexed. 'We can't go fast or far with the Kurumber to carry, and yet we certainly can't leave him while we hunt for the camp.' * Why not leave me to take care of him ? ' exclaimed Ralph, the warmth of his sympathy for the sufferer rendering him quite oblivious of other considerations. ' I'll see that no harm comes to him, and as soon as you find the camp, you can send some of the men to carry the poor chap back.' •Your suggestion does you great credit, Ralph,' responded the Professor, patting him upon the shoulder affectionately, ' and I don't know that anything better can be done. If Hugh and I work 95 ii| !'; . I 96 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS together, we're likely to locate the camp sooner than if I go alone, and I guess you'll be able to keep off any impertinent intruders that might want to be too curious about the Kurumber. Have you plenty of shells for your rifle ? ' 'Any amount of them,' replied Ralph, with a proud ring to his boyish voice, for he felt highly elated at his counsel being adopted. 'Very well then, my boy, we'll just fix the old fellow up as comfortably as possible under the tree here, where he'll be out of the sun, and then we'll get off.' Hugh thought he should stay with Ralph, but the latter protested that he did not at all mind being left alone — in fact, preferred it ; and as Professor Orde wanted his co-operation in the search for the camp, he acquiesced in the arrangement with his wonted amiability. When they had gone, Ralph chose a comfortable position close by the Kurumber, who was in a semi- conscious condition, the shock of the tiger's attack having had a paralysing effect, and set himself to speculating how long his watch and ward was likely to last. ' If I'd only had a good breakfast, I'd quite enjoy taking it easy like this; but, oh I'm so hungry!' and he drew his belt in another hole by way of mitigating the pangs which possessed his centre of digestion. RALPH DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF 97 .ly oy I' of of The monkeys, with which the trees were alive, growing accustomed to his presence, became so saucy, chattering and mowing at him from the branches overhead, or to right and left, that he was tempted to pick off a couple of the foremost ones just to teach the others better manners, but he thought better of it. ' If they were only good to eat, and I could manage to cook one somehow, it would be all right ; but they've got as much right to live as I have, and I won't hurt them,' he soliloquised, and he contented himself with throwing bits of stick at the noisiest members of the gang. For some time there was no sign of life, save the sociable monkeys, and Ralph, having lost his night's rest through the visit of the tiger, whose splendidly striped body was stretched out near by, dozed off into a sound sleep, despite the disturbing sensations in his empty stomach. He had been in the land of Nod for about an hour, when a hoarse cry from the old tracker brought him back, and caused him to spring up, instinctively grasping his rifle. The sight that met his eyes was certainly one to send a chill through his very marrow. Just in front, and not a score of yards distant, stood a sounder of wild hog, under the command of an old boar, whose appearance caused Ralph to exclaim : 7 I I ! ! ^1 98 THE SPFXIMEN HUNTERS * Well ! if you're not the ugliest brute I ever saw in my life ! ' He was of prodigious size and most forbiddino- aspect, with two yellow scimitars of tusks projecting from his bristling snout; while his bright bead)- eyes gleamed on either side of the gnarled and grizzled head in a way that boded no good to whatever might arouse his anger. Behind him came several sows with a rabble of squeaking youngsters, and if Ralph was any judge of expression, he felt sure that boar proposed to examine into the intrusion upon his domain, which the presence of the two * humans ' implied. Had he only himself to consider, Ralph's course of action required little thought. He had simply to swing up into the tree, at whose roots he stood, and stay there until the wild hog moved on. But that was out of the question, unless he could leave the poor old Kurumber to their mercy, and of doing this he had not the slightest intention. ' I wonder will they really attack us ? ' he asked himself, ' and, if they do, how am I to keep so many off? The old boar alone looks more than I can manage.' As he spoke, they all moved forward, and Ralph nerved himself for the onset. He could see nothing to be done but to fire point-blank at their leader in the hope of giving him a mortal wound, and frightening the others into flight. . )h ler lid RALPH DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF 9y They were within ten yards of him when the boar halted, and began to swing his head from side to side, accompanying ihc motion with a gnashing of tusks that sent shivers down Ralph's spine, it was so sinister a sound. * One yard farther, and I fire ! ' he cried, as if speaking to a person. At the sound of his voice the boar stopped swinging his repulsive front, and fixed his wicked eyes upon the boy, as if to say : 'Who are you that dares address me thus? I'll soon teach you to be more respectful.' Now, Ralph had ne^ r met a wild boar before, and knew nothing about the best way of shooting such big game ; but, as the creature stood still for an instant, his instinct said to him : ' Now or never, my boy ! ' and, without waiting to argue the point, he took aim at the centre of the crinkled forehead, and fired. The effect of the shot was certainly sensational enough to satisfy him. Down on the turf tumbled the boar, in what was apparently his death struggle, while his wives and children, filled with panic, instead of stopping to see what was the matter with their lord and master, and offering their sympathy and aid, scuttled away amid a chorus of terrified grunts and squeals. Forewarned by his previous experience, Ralph did not take it for granted that the wounded animal i^' r 11'^ 100 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS was finally disposed of, and made haste to slip another shell into his rifle without changing his position. The next instant the wisdom of this action was made clear, for the boar, regrining his feet by a determined effort, charged furiously at him. Ralph so deftly evaded the onset, that the maddened brute went bang into the trunk of the tree, the collision sending him to his knees, and ere he could recover himself Ralph fired again, this time aiming behind the shoulder. No veteran shikaree could have made a better shot, although Ralph fired so quickly as to scarcely take proper aim. The bullet pierced the stout heart of the boar, and, with a disgusted despairing grunt that was not without its touch of pathos, he collapsed into a lifeless heap within a yard of the helpless Kurumber, who had been watching the conflict with staring, terrified eyes, and ashen, drawn features. ' Hurrah for me! ' shouted Ralph exultantly, the reaction from the intense nervous strain inspiring him to attempt a double shuffle beside the body of his fallen foe for very joy. ' I played a lone hand that time, and won out all right. And it's a mighty good thing for you, old chap, that I did,' he added, patting the prostrate tracker on the head. ' If the fellow had knocked me out, he'd have made short work of you.* The old man smiled gratefully, and murmured his lOI RALPH DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF thanks. He knew right well the power for harm of an enraged wild boar, and his heart had stopped beating in sheer terror when the furious brute made its final charge. Ralph was standing over the boar and feeling its tough, wrinkled hide with his foot, when there came from the forest, in the rear, the welcome hail : ' Hullo, Ralph ! Here we are ! How have you got along.?' And, turning, he saw Hugh racing towards him, his handsome face aglow with joy at the sight of his brother, evidently in as good order and condition as when he left him. In his eagerness to make sure that all had gone well with Ralph, he had outstripped the others, and felt well rewarded for having done so when Ralph, without saying a word, pointed to the big, u^W body at his feet. &' b / y Hugh fairly gasped, as his eyes, opening to their widest, were fastened upon the lifeless tusker. ' Did you kill him all by yourself.?' he exclaimed with a glance at the Kurumber, as if wondering whether he could possibly have rendered any assist- ance. ' To be sure I did,' responded Ralph, with a fine pretence of such a feat being quite a matter of course with him. ' Isn't he a beauty ? ' Hugh smote him with the palm of his hand between the shoulders. 102 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS Itli ' You're a regular brick ! ' he cried. ' i 'm proud of you! I'm only sorry I wasn't here to help.' When Professor Orde and the others arrived there was more congratulation and praise, and Ralph had good reason to regard himself as the right kind of a hero. The Professor was no less delighted with the boar than he was with his nephew's prowess. * He's a splendid specimen ! ' he announced, after a rapid examination. ' We might not come across a better one in a month's hunting, and he'll make a fine addition to our collection. While you are enjoying your tiffin, Ralph, I'll get to work on him.' They had thoughtfully brought with them from the camp a substantial breakfast, for which Ralph had the keenest of appetites. Never had food seemed more welcome, and he soon forgot all the discomfort he had endured as he disposed of the good things provided. When the boar and the tiger had been converted into specimens, and the wounded Kurumber given due attention, they returned to camp and rested there for the remainder of that day, as they all felt rather played out. The balance of the week was spent in the neigh- bourhood, and many an important specimen secured, including another fine bison, a couple of sambur stags, and several specimens of monkeys, the *banda-log,' as they are called in Kipling's famous i^i \ RALPH DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF 103 jungle book, being in strong force throughout the forest. But in spite of diligent endeavours to that end, Professor Orde had no success in regard to elephants. On several occasions herds were sighted and stalked, but they either became alarmed and lumbered off into safety ere the hunters could get vi^ithin shooting distance, or it was impossible to obtain a proper shot at the best ones, and as the Professor would not inflict needless suffering, he let them off unscathed. 'Well, boys, I've had enough of this place. We'll have a try at the Animallai Hills.' m li ; ■ I CHAPTER XII TO THE ANIMALLAI HILLS TO reach the Animallai Hills, which belong to the great mountain-range called the Western Ghauts, it was necessary to go first to the city of Coimbatore, where a supply of provisions and chemicals sufficient for a two months' campaign was procured. From Coimbatore the rest of the journey had to be made across country in bandies — that is, covered carts drawn by bullocks. Into one of these the stores were loaded, and in the other, whose bottom had been liberally strewn with straw, the Professor and the boys disposed their legs and themselves as fast as they could ; then the little white bullocks set off at a sharp trot, which carried them along the excellent road at a good pace. All day and night they kept on, save where the bullocks were given a rest and feed. It was by no means luxurious travelling. The bandy had no springs, and when its big wheels struck a stone the result was a fearful jolt, which sent the passengers 104 ^ •^ .i\ TO THE ANIMALLAI HILLS I OS I i! bumping into each other as they sat or lay in the straw, while the incessant stream of abuse, poured by the driver upon his hard-working little animals, became wearisome to the point of exasperation. But the immense number and wonderful variety of their fellow-travellers — for the road seemed thronged at all times — interested the boys greatly, and they pelted questions at their uncle, who was often hard put to it to answer them. In the course of the night, despite the jolting of the bandy, they had all fallen asleep in the straw, when their slumbers were rudely disturbed by their being flung from the bottom, up against the mat- covered roof of the cart, where they were piled upon one another as if in a football scrimmage. Their driver had fallen asleep also, and the bul- locks, in turning out to avoid a bandy coming in the opposite direction, had gone too far, and dropped the right-hand wheel into the drain that ran beside the road. With great difficulty and a few bruises they managed to scramble out of their confinement, the boys laughing heartily at the upset. But the Professor was furious with the driver. Both his dignity and his person had been injured, and, seizing the man's whip, he gave him a sound thrashing, to which the fellow submitted like a dog ; the fact of the matter being that, in India, the stick or the whip is thought the only means of making ::' II io6 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS a sufficient impression upon the majority of the servants. Happily the cart was not at all damaged, and, getting themselves and their belongings back into it without loss of time, saying nothing about loss of temper, they resumed their journey. Reaching the village of Animallai without further mishap, the carts were there dismissed, and a number of coolies engaged to ' pack ' the luggage up the steep pass, and through the thick bamboo and teak forests, where no road had been made, to their destination. For the hunters sure-footed ponies were secured, upon which they rode at their ease, enjoying the splendid scenery and forecasting the r suits of the weeks that lay before them. * There is no finer hunting-ground in the world than this,' said the Professor enthusiastically. ' It gets its name from the elephant, the translation being Elephant Mountains, and it is the home of vast herds of the great creatures, besides bison, sambur deer, wild hog, ibex, not to speak of tigers, leopards, bears, and the like in plenty. We shall have no blank days here, I expect, but be able to bag something worth while every time we go out.' * That's just what we'll enjoy,' Ralph made haste to say. ' Lots of wild animals, and any amount of sport.' ' Provided we can keep a whole skin,' added the I TO THE ANIMALLAI HILLS 107 to less impetuous Hugh. 'The more plentiful they are, the bigger risks we run of getting a taste of their tusks, or horns, or claws, eh ? ' ' Right enough, Hugh, my boy,' responded the Professor, thoroughly understanding that it was not fear, but merely natural caution, which prompted the lad's remark. * We'll have to take many chances of being hurt, and you mustn't be rash or reckless in exposing yourselves ; but, barring that, we ought to get along finely.' The narrow trail wound onward and upward, crossing rocky ravines and turbulent mountain torrents, until at last, emerging from the dense forest, they saw before them, in an opening beside a little river, a commodious bungalow standing in front of a cluster of bamboo huts. ' Ah, ha ! ' exclaimed the Professor with manifest relief, for the journey had become very tiresome. •Here we are at last, and I'm right glad of it!' a sentiment in which the boys heartily concurred. Professor Orde bore a letter to the owner of the bungalow, which he sent forward by one of the bearers, while he halted until the recipient should have time to read it, and decide upon the kind of welcome he should give to these unexpected visitors. They were not kept long in suspense, for, a minute after the letter had been received, a gentle- man ran out, bareheaded and holding the paper in '5 V , io8 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS one hand, while the other was extended in readiness to give a cordial clasp. 'Professor Orde from the United States!' he exclaimed, in a rich strong voice with a touch of the North-country burr. ' I am most glad to welcome you to the Animallai Hills ; and these are your nephews — a braw pair o' lads, I can see — and no less welcome. My poor little place is entirely at your disposal.' Mr. Gordon Mackay had a tall, athletic figure, a strong, frank face, flashing dark eyes, crisp, curled hair, and his whole bearing bespoke decision, courage, and kindliness. The Professor and the boys at once felt that they were in the presence of one of nature's noblemen, to whom their hearts went out instinctively. As the Chief Resident Officer of the Department of Forests, Mr. Mackay had great influence and power. He was a little king in a way, and under his beneficent rule the great hunting district was admirably administered. ' Only bachelor's quarters, you know,' he said in a quite apologetic tone as he ushered his guests into the bungalow. But one glance around was sufficient to make them of the opinion that it was the most interesting ' quarters ' they had ever seen. The various rooms constituted a veritable museum, stocked as they were with a magnificent array of trophies of the chase, which spoke volumes for their • TO THE ANIMALLAI HILLS 109 owner's prowess as a shikaree. There were the tusks and tails of lordly elephants, and the perfectly mounted heads of bison and sambur, boar, sasin antelope, and axis deer, crowding the walls ; while, scattered about the floor, like ordinary rugs, lay the skins of tigers, leopards, bears, and hyenas. Stowed away in chests were innumerable bird-skins, with many nests and eggs ; and a well- selected library, chiefly of zoological books, completed the outfit. The boys gazed about them with wonder and delight. Every object in the different rooms had its interest for them, and when Mr. Mackay modestly admitted that he had not only shot every beast and bird himself, but skinned, or mounted, or preserved them with a little help from his servants, their admiration for him was unbounded. After a really sumptuous dinner, considering their distance from any market, they settled down in luxurious long chairs for an evening's talk, Hugh and Ralph acting audience to the two men who had so much to tell each other. Professor Orde poured in questions bearing upon his mission, and was glad to be assured that he had come just at the right time, and that the hunting season promised to be a particularly good one. Mr. Mackay, on his part, had many inquiries to make about the country from which his visitors had come, which he had never visited, and he drew from the Professor many stories of his hunting experiences V I -i ; ' t : 'i' no THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS there that were as interesting to him as his own tales, graphically told, were to the others. So the evening slipped away, and midnight came before any one was aware of it. ' Dear ! dear ! This will never do ! ' exclaimed the Professor, jumping up after a glance at his watch. • You boys should have been asleep a couple of hours ago. We must keep hunters' hours if we want to do hunters' work.' Mr. Mackay laughed as he rose from his chair. * Early to bed and early to rise is the secret of success in the hunting field,' he said, 'and I must apologise for keeping you up so late ; but seeing that you are the first of your countrymen I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, and that visitors are almost as scarce as angels in this lonely place, I really forgot myself in the enjoyment of your company. But we'll not be so dissipated after this.' The next morning active preparations were made for an elephant hunt, Professor Orde being extremely anxious to secure at least two good specimens. It was necessary to engage a number of natives to act as guides, trackers, and carriers. From the M ulcers, a neighbouring hill-tribe, these were chosen, and very satisfactory they proved, being strong, enduring, and plucky fellows who could be counted upon in a crisis. I TO THE ANIMALLAI HILLS II I The elephant ground was a full day's march farther into the very heart of the forest, and so, with a complete camp outfit, they proceeded thither, and at a spot where two little rivers met, where the teak-trees were tallest and the forest all silent and sombre, the men cut down bij^ bamboos and built snug little huts in a wonderfully short space of time. The hut-building was a most interesting operation. First the frame was constructed of large stems set upright in the ground, and the ridge-pole and rafters were firmly lashed to it with green bark. Then a sufficient quantity of stems were split open and flattened out into slabs, which formed the walls, while the roofs were simply composed of young teak-leaves laid on like slates and hooked over the cross-pieces. Out of the invaluable bamboo, not only the huts but their furniture, such as beds, tables, wash-basins, and pails, were quickly fashioned by the deft natives, and a single day's work resulted in as snug and complete a camp as any hunter could wish. 'Isn't this simply immense!' cried Ralph, in ecstasy at the almost magical skill of their servants. * I never saw anything like it ; and to think that we're going to stay here for weeks ! ' and by way of expressing his thoughts, he caught the more sedate Hugh around the waist and started waltzing him over the turf until they were both out of breath, r } ; 1 112 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS while Professor Orde smiled benignantly upon them. * We'll stay here until I bag two first-class elephants,' he said, in a tone of profound resolution. * I'm not going away empty-handed, you may depend upon that.' i ■w iss nd CHAPTER XIII THE TUSKER'S CHARGE HAVING taken possession of their bamboo huts and disposed their belongings therein to the best advantage — for the Professor v'as a very orderly individual, and insisted upon his nephews being likewise — they proceeded to plan out their campaign against 'my lord, the elephant.' They would take half-a-dozen trackers and gun- carriers, and be prepared to remain away from camp a day if necessary. ' But not all night, I hope,' put in Ralph, who had no desire to repeat his previous experience of a night in the jungle. ' I hope not, my boy,' responded the Professor. 'One taste of that sort of thing was quite enough.' Taking their heaviest rifles and lots of ammunition, they set off soon after sunrise, and had not gone far when they started up a fine stag sambur, accom- panied by a doe and fawn. As the stag carried a noble pair of antlers, they were following his trail in the hope of coming upon him again, when the 8 113 ' 114 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS trackers stopped short, and, showing great excite- ment, pointed to a very different kind of trail, which crossed that of the stag. ' Ani, sahib ! Ani ! ' they exclaimed, their dusky faces wreathed with smiles. It was the trail of a herd containing many elephants, and from all appearances not many hours old. Professor Orde was jubilant. * Now, then, boys,' he said, as he rose from a study of the marks on the ground, ' we've got our work before us,' and bidding the trackers go ahead, he followed close. When travelling through the forest from one feeding-ground to another elephants usually go in Indian file, so that a whole herd will leave but a single trail ; but this wiM be a broad, well-tramped path, as plain as if maue by man. This trail led the hunters presently into a marsh, where the mud was soft and squashy under foot, and the tall rank grass high over head — a kind of going which Ralph, for one, found very unpleasant. * Oh, dear!' he murmured. 'Isn't this horrid? What possessed the cretures to go through such a place as this ? ' But they crossed the marsh and entered the forest again, and the trail manifestly freshened as they advanced, so that the tension increased. They were pushing on at a good rate through the THE TUSKER'S CHARGE "S open forest, when suddenly a clear, resonant trumpet note rang out to their right, and brought them to a full stop. * Hullo,' exclaimed the Professor. ' Is that where you are? Well, I'm sure it's awfully good of you to tell us, We'll steer right for you,' and, turning off the trail, they made a bee-line in the direction of the trumpeting. The elephant continued his performance, as if proud of the music he was making, little suspecting what trouble it was bringing upon himself and his companions, and, guided by it, the hunters soon got near enough to hear the cracking of the young bamboo-shoots upon which the herd was feeding. The utmost caution was now imperative, for there was not a breath of air stirring, and the acute ears of the great animals would catch the slightest suspicious sound. Breathlessly the hunters crept nearer, until at last, crouching behind the teak-trees, they looked out upon no less than a score of these huge grey creatures feeding at their ease over a space of a hundred yards or so. The herd was composed principally of females and young tuskers, upon whom Professor Orde had no malign intentions, but there was one grand old fellow, boasting a splendid pair of ivories, that he marked for his own. * Only one of the whole herd to suit me,* he ii6 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS '4 whispered to Hugh, * but he is simply immense. I must get him if it takes me a whole week.' Seeing what easy marks their huge forms seemed to present, both Hugh and Ralph wondered why their uncle did not begin firing at once instead of skulking this way and that through the forest, as if he could not get up courage to try a shot. But he knew what he was about. To make sure work of it, an Indian elephant must be shot through the brain, and thus killed at the first fire, or he is very apt to get away, feeling little the worse for the bullet in his cranium. The old tusker looked very stately and imposing as he roamed about in a lazy, leisurely fashion, swinging his huge trunk from side to side until he came to a clump of bamboos that seemed tempting. Studying it closely for a moment with his sharp little eyes, he would espy in the very centre of it a soft and juicy young shoot looking very much like a huge stalk of asparagus some twenty feet high. Forcing his way into the clump he reaches out his trunk, and gets a turn of it around the coveted shoot. Then he backs off a little, and down comes the twenty-foot stem with a tearing crash. Quietly placing his forefeet upon the prostrate stem he crushes it into fragments, and lifts piece after piece into his capacious mouth, champing it in measured fashion with supreme content. Presently the whole herd began to move away. THE TUSKER'S CHARGE 117 browsing as they went, and Professor Orde felt that it was time to bring matters to a crisis. They crossed a nullah and entered the bamboo jungle on the farther side. By making a quick detour the hunters were able to reach an unusually large clump of bamboo which the elephants would pass, and there they took up their position. 'Don't move or make a sound now,' whispered the Professor, as he knelt to be in readiness for the fatal shot. With trying deliberation the herd approached, and one by one passed by in as complete ignorance of the proximity of human beings as if the latter did not exist. Last of all came the tusker, all unconscious of his peril. When he was not more than twenty feet away Professor Orde, taking steady, careful aim at the ear-opening, pulled the trigger, and then sprang aside to be out of the way of the monster when he toppled over. But, alas for the vanity of human hopes ! Instead of coming down with a grand crash, as was so con- fidently expected, the elephant threw his trunk aloft, gave a piercing shriek of fright and pain, and rushed off through the forest, trumpeting as he went. Astounded and disgusted at the result of his shot, Professor Orde threw down his rifle, exclaiming : 'Confound it! I've missed the brain after all my trouble, and nobody knows when I'll get another chance!' r ii8 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS !i' lit llMI m Hugh and Ralph were prompt with their sympathy, and even the trackers looked sorry at the failure of the attempt ; but this afforded the Professor no consolation. * We must follow them,' he said, in his most resolute tone. * I'm determined to get that tusker at any cost.' So they set off upon the trail, which certainly was not difficult to follow, the trackers assuring them that the herd would soon recover from its panic and resume feeding, thus enabling them to overtake it. For a couple of hours they plodded on, starting quantities of other game, but not daring to fire at any of them lest they should again alarm their quarry. They saw troop after troop of black monkeys. They roused a sounder of wild hog. A solitary old bull bison feeding upon a hillside, catching sight of them, gave a snort like a steam-engine, and lumbered off out of danger. Then a herd of axis deer was seen browsing at the edge of a glade, and Ralph begged to be allowed to try a shot at the buck, which was a particularly fine one, but the Professor would not permit it. At last the trackers announced that from the appearance of the trail the elephants had evidently got over their fright, and were taking things more deliberately, so that the chances were they might be come up with at any minute. They now moved forward as quiedy as shadows, i^ THE TUSKER'S CHARGE 119 and their patience was presently rewarded by the stillness of the forest being broken by the sounds of snapping branches as the elephants wrought destruction amongst the bamboo-clumps. 'We've caught up to them again, I'm thankful to see ! ' ejaculated the Professor. • Now let us all be most careful, for we must not make a mull of it this time.' In breathless silence they advanced, until in a little while the great grey forms loomed in sight, and easily identified among them was that of the lordly old tusker. Motioning to the others to stay still, the Professor, followed by one of the M ulcers carrying a spare rifle, made a slight ddtoitr which brought him almost as close to the tusker as he had been when he fired at him before. * I do hope he'll bring him down this time,' whispered Hugh to Ralph. « It will be an awful disappointment if he misses again after all this trouble.' The wild elephant never being still for a moment while awake, this one was swinging first one foot and then another, and keeping both trunk and tail moving constandy in a way that looked as if he were nervous and suspicious of some danger, but in reality he had not the slightest notion of an enemy being near. Yet it was strange how often he managed to move 120 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS a little just when Professor Orde had got his aim and was about to fire. Again and again this happened, until the watching boys grew nearly frantic with suspense. At length the Professor's opportunity came, and, throwing his rifle to his shoulder, he pulled trigger. As the report rang out the tusker gave a shrill trumpeting cry, and pitched forward upon his head, to all appearances dead. With a shout of triumph Professor Orde stepped out from behind the tree-trunk which had hidden him, and at the same moment the boys darted forward to join him. They were standing together rejoicing over the success of the shot when, to their consternation, the vast bulk upheaved itself, the elephant struggled to its feet, and, after one bewildered look around through its beady eyes, emitted an appalling shriek v^f rage as he charged furiously upon the little group. * Run for your lives ! " cried the Professor, dropping his empty rifle, and snatching the spare one from the trembling M ulcer, who, the moment it was out of his hands, took to his heels at the top of his speed. Hugh and Ralph needed no second command. They dashed off, one to the right and the other to the left, and so the Professor was left alone to face the fearful monster bearing down upon him. W CHAPTER XIV A DOUBLE DANGER PROFESSOR ORDE, in the course of his experiences as a naturaHst, had got himself into some very dangerous and thrilling situa- tions, but never before had he been in so critical a position as now. By a quick, deft dodge he managed to evade the maddened creature's first onset, but, with an agility hardly credible in so ponderous a bulk, the tusker, on missing him, stopped short, and repeated the charge. Then ensued a game of chase that might have been very amusing to the boys, if the, to them, most precious life in the world was not at stake. The tree-trunks fortunately stood thickly about, and the Professor dodged from one to another of these, while the elephant, trumpeting shrilly, pur- sued him with relentless determination. So rapid were the movements of both that the boys, who had not gone far — for they burned to render their uncle aid — did not dare fire, and, though I' 121 122 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS I I ' [ .1 i 1 1^ I ih ■ throbbing with anxiety, could only look on help- lessly, praying for the Professor's escape. At last, in trying to take a sudden turn, the tusker tripped over a protruding root and stumbled forward. As quick as a flash Professor Orde whirled about, and, apparently taking no time to aim, pulled trigger. Snap-shot though it practically was, it accom- plished its purpose better than the other attempt, which had been made with such care. The bullet crashed through the many layers of bone into the hidden brain, and, without a sound, the huge creature, instead of rising to continue his fierce charge, pitched forward, this time dead beyond a peradventure. But the Professor was not to be deceived again. * Keep back, boys ! ' he called out to Hugh and Ralph, who were running up with exultant shouts. ' He may be only playing possum, though I doubt it. But we'll wait a little and see.* So they sat down near by to rest and regain their breath, while the Mulcers, advancing cautiously, proceeded to prod the prostrate bulk with their sticks, and make sure that all life had left it. This fact being soon established, the Professor began measuring his quarry, and it was with pro- found satisfaction that he noted down the figures, for in every respect the grand old tusker was a splendid specimen of his kind. 'We can't do anything more with him to-night,' V ; 1 ■ \ A DOUBLE DANGER 123 he said, when the measurements were com; leted, 'and I'm half inclined to stay here to keep the wild animals off him, or they may maul his skin so that it will not be worth preserving.' ' If you do we'll stay with you— eh, Hugh ? ' spoke up Ralph at once ; and Hugh promptly responded : ' Of course we will.' But the Professor shook his head doubtfully. They had had a long and wearisome day of it. They were without food or shelter of any kind, and it looked like rain. ' No,' he said, patting them each upon the shoulder. 'You're very good, but I won't put your devotion to me to that test. We'll just have to leave the old fellow to take his chances, unless, indeed, I can bribe some of these M ulcers to stay on guard.' Calling them up to him he made the proposition. They were reluctant at first, but the offer of a whole rupee apiece proved too much for two of them, anH, feeling much relieved, the Professor returned to camp. For the next few days he was completely taken up with the work of skinning, skeletonising, and pre- serving his big prize, and the boys were left to their resources, as the servants could furnish him all the help necessary, and the operation was by no means a pleasant one to those who were not inspired with scientific ardour. ' Since you have no fancy for this business, which .« r^ 124 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS I; 1 J I can quite understand,' the Professor said to them, 'you might put in the time getting me some good specimens of those black langurs that swarm in the tree-tops. I'd be glad to have a score of their skins and skeletons.' 'To be sure we will,' they answered together. ' Nothing will suit us better. Can we have a couple of men to go with us ? ' ' Certainly,' was the reply. ' Take your pick of the crowd, and see what you can do.* Much pleased at their commission, the boys lost no time in carrying it out. Supplied with ammunition and provisions sufficient for a long day's outing, and guided by two intelligent natives, they set forth to secure the langurs. These monkeys, which are among the most handsome of the whole species, having fine glossy hair, black throughout except at the head, which is greyish-brown, the face being encircled by a ring of long grey hairs, live among the lofty tree-tops, and are very difficult to shoot because of the rapidity of their movements. The boys had not to go far to find them, for they were all about in troops of from five to ten, sending forth their frightful cry, which consisted of a terrific guttural * wall ! wah ! wah ! ' followed by a resonant * alioo — 00 — hoo — 00 ! ' when they caught sight of the hunters. The moment a rifle was raised the whole troop 1 A DOUBLE DANGER I2S would start off, their leaping black forms showing plainly among the branches, and they would get away at such a rate that pursuit seemed hopeless. But, having gone a couple of hundred yards, they would suddenly call a halt, gather together, and spend what was left of their breath in abuse of their pursuers. With a fleet-footed Mulcer in the lead Hugh and Ralph maintained the chase resolutely, until at last their patience was rewarded. After a breathless dash of a hundred yards the tracker stopped and pointed a long, bare, black arm up into the top of a tall blackwood tree, where the biggest langur of the troop had taken refuge. Eagerly the boys peered into the foliage and caught sight of a jet-black face encircled by long white hair, grinning derisively back at them. In an instant they both threw their rifles to their shoulders, and fired. The monkey stopped grinning, gave a sudden start, clutched desperately at the branches near him, lost his balance, and then, with out-stretched limbs, came flying down through space, striking the earth with a terrific thud. ' I hope he hasn't broken any bones, ' said Hugh anxiously, for he knew his uncle wanted the skeleton to be as perfect as possible. * He hit the ground mighty hard.' Ralph ran forward and began to feel the limp bodv over. 126 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS % ' I don't think he has,' he said. ' He seems all right; So far as they could make out there were no bones broken, and, encouraged by this success, they continued the chase some hours longer, with the result that they bagged half-a-dozen fine langurs, whose flesh the natives afterwards ate with keen relish, although they did not feel tempted to try it themselves. On their way back to camp in the afternoon they had an adventure with bears that was highly exciting for a time, and might have had serious consequences. The little party was strolling along somewhat listlessly, for they all felt pretty tired, when Ralph suddenly cried out : • Hullo! Look there!' And, behold ! not more than a score of yards distant were three black bears loping slowly along one behind the other, and in such a direction that they must cross the path of the hunters, of whose presence they had evidently not the slightest notion. One bear was much larger than the other two, and, inspired by the ide,' of winning additional renown on his own account, Ralph, who at the moment was leading the party, took aim at the big one, and fired. Instantly the sleepy quiet was changed into a wild uproar. The wounded bear rolled over on the A DOUBLE DANGER 127 ground, bawling vociferously, while the ot-her two pitched right upon her, snapping and snarling ficrceiy. The hunters came to a halt, and Hugh made ready to fire, but waited for a favourable chance, his good sense telling him that it was better to finish the big bear first before beginning on the others. While he stood waiting and ready, the yelling heap of black forms suddenly broke up, and the next moment all three bears charged straight at the boys and their followers. ' Hoop-de-dooden ! ' cried Ralph. ' We've got to run for it now ' ; and he darted off in one direc- tion, Hugh going in another, and the M ulcers in a third. This sudden scattering of the enemy puzzled the bears for a moment ; but they did not hesitate long, the big one, by some subtle instinct, keeping on after Ralph, while the other two followed the natives, leaving Hugh out of account. Ralph rushed on, looking out for some tree into which he might climb, but there was nothing suitable at hand, the bamboos being too light and thin, and the other trees having no branches near the ground. Hugh, in order that he might render his brother assistance, followed as close as he could, ready to use his rifle the moment he saw a good chance. Thus the three of them were playing a decidedly thrilling game of chase, the result of which it was by no means easy to predict, when, to the surprise of all t 128 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS concerry^d, an addition was made to the actors in this strange performance. Ralph had directed his course towards a thick clump of bamboo, in which he hoped to find at least temporary refuge from his pursuer, but, just as he was about to dash into it, there rushed out a great bull bison, which had no doubt been having a siesta hidden in the dense foliage. Whether angry at being disturbed, or stirred into fighting spirit by the sight of a double enemy, the bison, after a moment's hesitation, lowered its mighty front and charged, bellowing. CHAPTER XV MR. GORDON MACKAY'S STORY HUGH shouted frantically at his brother: * Look out, Ralph, for the bison ! ' and, utterly regardless of his own safety! dashed forward to be beside him. But Ralph did not need the warning. He saw the new danger as quickly as Hugh, and by a deft dart to the right managed to evade the deadly onset of the great creature, thereby not only saving him- self for the moment, but bringing his two assailants right upon each other, neither being able to check or change their course before they came into collision. They met ' head on ' after the fashion of railway trains speeding in opposite directions upon the same track when some one has blundered, and the bear got decidedly the worst of it, the bison's massive horns striking him so tremendous a blow as to tumble him over like a nine-pin, stunned and breath- less. Despite their own panic, the boys, witnessing this effective knock-out, were moved to an outburst of 9 129 (I 130 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS applause, and now standing side by side, awaited further developments, while they were ready to take flight the instant danger again threatened. The bison, with no thought for anything save the bear, stood in the centre of the open space, pawing the ground and bellowing fiercely, as though to say : * Come on, now. If you want another round, I'm ready.' The bear, having pulled himself together, began to advance towards his burly antagonist, growling and snarling with a degree of fury that clearly showed how he felt about it. * Let them fight it out between them,' said Hugh, when Ralph made to raise his gun. ' We won't fire unless they turn on us.* They were too much absorbed in each other for this latter contingency to seem likely, and so the boys watched with breathless interest while the fight continued. It proved quite a protracted struggle, in the course of which the bear inflicted grievous wounds upon the bison's head and shoulders, but in the end the latter conquered. The bear grew weaker and weaker, until at last both breath and life were beaten out of him by his merciless antagonist, and the bull, though bleeding from many a gaping wound, bellowed triumphantly over a limp mass of fur. Again Ralph raised his rifle, being filled with the ' V \ I MR. GORDON MACKAY'S STORY 131 idea of securing another specimen of the bison for his uncle's collection, but again Hugh put out a restraining arm. ' No — no — Ralph,' he said, half entreating, half commanding. ' Don't shoot him. He's fought splendidly, and has been badly wounded himself. Let him go. He deserves it.' Ralph demurred a little, but lowered his rifle, and the bison, which had become quite oblivious of their presence, after some further demonstration of satis- faction over his victory, returned to his retreat among the bamboos to nurse his wounds, and con- sider whether it paid to have such a tussle with bruin. On examining the body of the bear the boys found it in what seemed fairly good condition, con- sidering the rough treatment it had been subjected to, whereat they were delighted, as it would be of some value to their uncle. On their returning to the camp with the langurs, and with the account of the bear, Professor Orde was greatly pleased. * You are proving invaluable lieutenants,' he said, giving them each a hearty clap on the back, ' and I'm more and more satisfied that I did the best thing in bringing you.' When the work of preserving the elephant, bear, and langurs had been completed, the whole party returned to Mr. Gordon Mackay's bungalow to rest for a little, and refit, before continuing their hunt. \ 132 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS u ( The talk was much about tigers, and their host, who had probably killed more of these terrible animals than any other man in India, held his guests in thrall by the hour while he narrated his own experiences. * You see,' he said, * Indian tigers may be divided into three classes, according to the way in which they procure their food. There is the " game-killer " that lives in the hills and forests where wild game is plentiful, and leads the life of an honest hunter. Then there is the " cattle-lifter," a big, fat, lazy thief that prowls around the villages after dark, and kills a bullock whenever he feels hungry, thus causing heavy loss to the poor natives. ' But neither of these is of much consequence beside the dreaded "man-eater," the scourge and terror of the timid natives, who are practically de- fenceless against its attacks. Until a tiger has once had its fangs in human flesh, you know, it has an instinctive fear of man, and unless brought to bay will almost always beat a retreat. But with its first taste of human blood that fear vanishes for ever, and it becomes a man-eater.' The boys shuddered at the mention of this dread name, and Professor Orde asked : ' Are these man-eaters really so destructive as they are reported ; or has there been a lot of exaggeration as to their doings ? ' Mr. Mackay smiled and shook his head. MR. GORDON MACKAY'S STORY 133 ' No, indeed,' he replied, ' there Is no need to exaggerate. When once a man-eater has estab- lished himself In a district he causes a perfect reign of terror until he Is slain. At first, perhaps, he carries off a herdsman and next a woodcutter as they pass through the jungle. Then, finding men so much easier to kill than wild beasts or even bullocks, he grows bolder, until he enters the villages after nightfall, and seizes men, women, and children at their own doors, so that no one is safe except behind barred doors. He becomes the supreme object of the poor villagers' thoughts, and sometimes drives them away from their homes. Why, sir,' concluded Mr. Mackay, his voice becoming more emphatic, *one tigress caused the desertion of thirteen villages, and another was known to have taken no less than one hundred u/id twenty-seven lives before her bloody work was stopped ! ' 'Your testimony certainly settles the matter be- yond all further question,' said the Professor, leaning back In his chair with an expression of conviction. ' Have you killed many man-eaters yourself, sir?' asked Ralph, who had been hanging upon the narrator's words with breathless Interest. * Oh yes; I've done my share,' Mr. Mackay responded without a trace of boasting In his tone. ' If you're not tired of hearing me talk, I'll tell you how I disposed of one of the worst of them.' The prompt chorus of protest that they were all , i I 134 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS u most eager for the narrative evidently gratified their host, and, bidding them settle down as comfortably as possible in their chairs, for the story was rather a long one, he proceeded with it. ' Some years ago word came to me of a man- eater which was credited with having devoured over a hundred people, and had completely closed several roads, one of them being the main outlet from the Batul teak-forests. This tiger dominated a large triangle of country between the rivers Moran and Ganjal, and when I set out to kill him I decided to pitch my camp in a mango-grove on the banks of t'lo !viuran. Thither came all the best shikarees of ^he neighbourhood, and also numbers of the inhabitaii.s, who were then living in barricaded houses and only stirring out of them if necessity compelled. When they did any moving about it was in large bodies, guarded by armed men, and beating drums as they passed along the roads. Many villages had been utterly deserted, and the country-side was being depopulated by a single animal. ' I had a number of elephants at my command, and made up quite an imposing cavalcade as I set out in the howdah of the largest elephant for the brute's hunting-ground, while several others carried my baggage and were protected by a party of native police, with whom were my gun-bearers, and a whole posse of matchlock shikarees. i\ MR. GORDON MACKAY'S STORY 135 *» it * On my way I was met by a messenger bearing the startling news that one of a band of pilgrims travelling by a jungle road had been killed at a spot not far distant, and I at once hastened thither. The poor man had been struck down where a small ravine crossed the lonely pathway, and his shoulder- stick, with its pendant baskets, was lying on the ground in a dried-up pool of blood, and shreds of his clothes adhered to the bushes, showing where he had been dragged down into the bed of the nullah. ' Taking up the tracks of the man-eater at that point, we followed them until dark without coming up with the animal, and then returned to camp. The next morning we resumed the chase, and were halting for a little rest, when some Banjaras came running in to report that one of their companions had been taken out of the middle of their drove of bullocks by the tiger just as they were starting from their night's encampment. ' By this time I was worked up to something like a frenzy. It seemed as if the terrible brute were doing this killing out of a pure bravado, and to show his utter indifference to my efforts to track him down. * With as little loss of time as possible the elephants were got ready, and we set off breathing destruction. The edge of a low savannah, covered with long grass and intersected by a nullah, was the .\ \ ^j 136 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS scene of the last tragedy, and a broad trail of crushed-down grass showed where the body had been dragged down to the nullah. No tracking was necessary, it was all so horribly plain, and the trail did not lead quite into the ravine, which had steep sides, but turned and went alongside of it into some very high grass reaching nearly up to the howdah. ' Here Sarju Parshad, a large Government ele- phant I was riding, kicked violently at the ground and trumpeted, and inmiediately the long grass ahead began to wave. ' We pushed on at full speed, and the next minute my elephant was stepping over the half- devoured body of the unfortunate Banjara. But the cover was dreadfully thick ; and although I did catch a glimpse of a yellow object as it leaped into the nullah, I had no time to fire at it. ' We had some difficulty in getting the elephant to descend the bank and follow the broad plain footsteps of the monster, evidently now going off at a swinging pace. ' He kept on in the nullah for about a mile and then took to the grass again, but it was not so long here, and we could make out the trail from the howdah. ' Presently, however, it led into rough stony ground, where the tracking became more difficult ; but my trackers did not lose it, and at last it seemed lit s 1 t; f n M s MR. GORDON MACKAY'S STORY 137 to come to an end at a dense cover of jaman and tamarisk in the bed and on the banks of a river where water and shade were abundant. ' Posting beaters and scouts around this thicket, I pushed old Sarju slowly and carefully into the midst. About the centre the jungle was extremely thick, and the bottom was cut up by a number of parallel water-channels among the roots of the tamarisk. * Here my good elephant paused and began to kick the earth, and to utter the low tremulous sound which denoted the close proximity of what we sought. With beating hearts we peered anxiously through the gloom of the jungle, and at last the mahout, who was lower down on the elephant's neck, pointed eagerly at a thick jaman-bush whispering : * " There he is, sahib ! I see him ! Look ! " ' I had put some stones into the howdah, and I ordered my shikaree, who was in the back seat, to pitch one into the bush. Instantly the tiger started up with an angry roar, and bounded off through the jungle. I just had time to give him both right and left as he galloped away, and could see that both shots told, although they did not stop him. ' Now, I had posted a pad elephant at the only point where the tiger could easily get up the high bank, and when he found the big creature blocking his way of escape he at once turned and charged i! I I! I ! i i 138 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS back at me, roaring horribly. It was not easy to get aim at him through the crashing bushes, and I waited until he was within twenty yards of m»i before firing again. * This dropped him into one of the channels : but a tiger has as many lives as a cat, and he soon picked himself up and came on again, though more slowly. I was just covering him with my big shell rifle when old Sarju suddenly wheeled around, and I found myself looking the opposite way, while a worrying sound behind me, and the frantic move- ments of the elephant, made it plain that " stripes " had become an unwelcome fellow-passenger. * The elephant's efforts to kick his assailant off were so violent that I had all I could do to keep from being pitched out of the howdah, but at last he relaxed them for an instant, and seizing the chance, I leaned over, clapped the muzzle of my rifle to the man-eater's head, and blew it into fifty pieces with the large shell.' So thrilling had been the narration that its conclusion was for the moment greeted with the profound silence of absorbed attention, which Ralph was the first to break. ' I'd rather kill a man-eater than anything else in the world,' he exclaimed ; whereat the others broke into a hearty laugh. fS i (i CHAPTER XVI .^ VARIED EXPERIENCES DURING the remaining weeks of their stay in the Animallai Hills they had many unpleasant as well as pleasant experiences. Mr. Macka/s bungalow had a very thick roof made of layers of cocoanut-leaves, and the thatch literally swarmed with tree-rats, that at night, after all had gone to bed, would come down to the floor by dozens, and go galloping and rummaging all over the place, fighting and squealing until daylight. Mr. Mackay had got accustomed to them, and Professor Orde did not mind them very much bemg an exceedingly sound sleeper ; but the boys found them very trying, for, not content with scampermg over the floor, they even were audacious enough to climb upon the cots and examine their occupants at close quarters. But the climax came one night when a big fellow jumping from a beam, misjudged the distance, and fell plump upon Ralph's upturned face. 139 !>' I 140 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS Thus rudely startled from a dream in which he was gallantly dispatching a renowned man-eater, Ralph sprang out of his cot with a shout that awakened all the others, and the two men, fearing a midnight attack of some kind, snatched their rifles from the rack. Upon the truth being learned there was a hwctfty laugh all round, and Ralph would no longer be content without some protection against these di- minutive though annoying assailants, and so there- fore a light was kept burning during the n'ght, and this made matters somewhat better. But the rats at their worst were of small account in comparison with the fever which attacke(: all three of the party at different times and requ red heavy dosing with quinine to be overcome. Hugh took his attack quite stoically, and t the time of his confinement to the bungfiow in reading Mr. Mackay's books and studying lao.e closely his remarkable collections of specimens ; but it was not in Ralph to be so philosophical. He fretted and fumed against the loss of vaLiable time, as he regarded it. ' The very idea,' he growled, 'of being kept in by this miserable fever when we might be out shooting elephants or tigers, maybe. It's simply maddening. Why can't the fever let us alone ? ' In due time they did all get done with it, and Professor Orde arranged an excursion to Tellicul, A iiiil » T VARIED EXPERIENCES 141 where their native servants quickly put up several huts, and they settled down for a week's hunting. ' We shan't bother about the big game for the present,' said Professor Orde, ' unless, of course, it comes right in our way. I want to get a number of specimens of the smaller kinds, such as the axis and muntjac deers, with perhaps a sambur stag or two.' In their quest for the axis deer they came upon a scene that made them greatly regret that they had not brought with them cameras as well as rifles, so that they might ' take a shot ' at the animals without taking their lives. Not far from camp was a small glade, about the size of a city square, quite surrounded by dense bamboo forest, which was a favourite feeding- ground for the pretty spotted creatures. Creeping up to this through the dark jungle late one bright afternoon they beheld in the centre of the open space a picture that none of them ever forgot. Grouped together in most picturesque fashion, just as if they might have been posing for a painter or photographer, were threescore deer of all ages and sizes, from the tawny fawn to the splendid stag with wide-spreading antlers. * Don't they look just beautiful ? ' whispered Ralph to Hugh, who was at his side. 'They do, indeed,' responded Hugh under his breath. And certainly, as the sun's rays shone full upon ! , '^i i! i if! m 142 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS i! ( their satiny sides, bringing the white spots so clearly out of the fawn-coloured ground, they seemed the prettiest of all the deer kind. Some were leisurely cropping the short grass, giving an occasional quick glance into the shadowy forest, while others lay about very much at their ease, blinking comfortably as they chewed their cuds in perfect contentment. Professor Orde, having gazed his fill, whispered to the boys : 'I'll take the big stag. You each take one of the others,' and was about to level his rifle, which would have scattered the happy, peaceful group in panic-stricken flight, when a hand was laid upon his arm, with an entreating touch which disconcerted his aim. Nettled at this interference, he turned upon Ralph, who was responsible for it, with a sharp inquiry as to what he meant, when he saw that the boy's eyes were filled with tears, and his lips moved to say pleadingly : ' Please don't shoot them, uncle. They look so happy.' Almost unconsciously he lowered his rifle. Such a show of feeling on the part of the gay, reckless Ralph surprised him, and, reflecting that, as axis deer might be shot any day, it was worth while humouring the boy on this occasion, he said in a gentler tone : s e VARIED EXPERIENCES M3 'Very well, my lad, if you'd rather not, but it does seem a pity to let such a good chance slip.* As he spoke he rose from the cramped position in which he had been lying, and in so doing rustled the bushes. The quick ear of the stag caught the sound of danger. He gave a warning snort, every animal at once became alert, and the next instant, following his example, bounded away into the jungle. * It was very foolish of me, uncle,' said Ralph in a tone of rather shamefaced apology ; ' but they looked so pretty and happy that I hated to see any of them killed.' 'All right, Ralph, I'll forgive you this time,' responded the Professor heartily, ' but don't do it again, for, after all, you see, if we don't kill the deer some tiger or panther or wolf will, and they won't suffer anything like as much at our hands.* On the way back they had an illustration both of the keen sight of the trackers and the value of protective colouring to animals. They were making their way through the bamboo forest when the leading Mulcer stopped, uttered his low ' Tut-tut- tut,' which signalled the presence of game, and pointed to a thicket fifty yards or so distant. The Professor and the boys peered eagerly where indicated, but at first could make out nothing. Presently Hugh whispered : ' I think I see him.' T 144 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS * If you do, then, try a shot,' Professor Orde whispered back, and so Hugh blazed away. But no disturbance in the thicket followed the report. If the sambur stag were there, as the Mulcer alleged, he was not easily frightened. * It is there yet, sahib,' asserted the native, and now Ralph thought he made it out, and, without waiting to ask permission, fired in his turn. Still not a motion in the thickr and still the Mulcer asserted that the stag was ti.ere. He even had the audacity to smile at the failure of the sahibs to perceive the animal, whereupon the Professor, following the direction of the tracker's finger, took a shot on chance. This time the twigs moved, and an instant later the sambur rushed forth into plain view, when a second shot from the Professor's spare rifle brought him down. ' How was it we couldn't see him when he was there all the time .'* ' the boys asked, both of them feeling not a little chagrined at seeming ridiculous in the sight of the natives. ' Just because our eyes are not sufficiently trained,' answered the Professor. * You see, the stag's coat is precisely of the same dull grey colour as the branches of the bamboo, and when standing against them or amongst them only a tracker's eye can make him out in this dim light.' * I wonder how long it would take to make our VARIED EXPERIENCES US le in eyes as sharp as theirs,' said Ralph in a somewhat plaintive tone that caused the Professor to smile sympathetically as he responded : ' More years than any of us can spare, I am afraid, Ralph. The keenness of sight that these natives possess is as much inherited as it is acquired, and we could hardly hope to caich up wich them in the space of a single lifetime. It might take several generations.' They were late in returning to camp that day, and, on reaching the edge of the glade in which their huts had been put up, an extraordinary sight met their eyes, which at first filled them with dismay that soon gave place to anger. A herd of wild elephants had chanced upon their temporary dwellings in the course of their roaming through the forest, and, actuated by the spirit of mischief which at times enters into these huge creatures, were busily engaged in making a total wreck of them, tearing off the roofs, breaking down the fragile walls, smashing the tables and cots, and throwing them to a distance with their trunks. * Plague on the brutes ! ' cried the Professor, as he prepared to fire at the big tusker which seemed to be foremost in the mischief. ' It would serve them right to kill the whole lot.' But he did not pull the trigger at once. The herd was a large one, and contained several big bulls. If their fighting spirit were aroused they i f \ lO 1: 146 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS might prove decidedly dangerous. That the Mulcers feared such a possibiHty was clear from the alarm upon their faces, and their evident readiness to bolt at an instant's notice. Yet it was certainly trying to look on at this wanton destruction of one's goods and chattels without any kind of protest. Professor Orde was, for once at least, completely nonplussed, and not even the impetuous Ralph had a suggestion to make. Meanwhile the elephants continued their wicked work with manifest relish. \h ]i: ^L^ T CHAPTER XVII THE PROFESSOR IN PERIL AT length the elephants, having practically left nothing whole of any account, set up a triumphant trumpeting that was a veritable adding of insult to injury, and moved off into the forest again, leaving the hunters disgusted. Hugh was the first to speak. With a sly look at his uncle, he said quietly : ' That seems like a case of turning the tables, doesn't it ? We've been hunting the elephants and doing our best to shoot the biggest of them, and now they've come back on us. I wonder did they know that they were our huts, or did they smash them just because they were put up by men ? ' ' It's of small consequence what they thought, seeing how thoroughly they've done the business,' responded the Professor, ruefully regarding the fragments of his cot. • It's too late to get back to the bungalow to-night, so we'll have to make the best of it here. Fortunately, we've got something to eat this time.' 147 !l ^ 148 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS By cutting down a quantity of bamboo-shoots they made quite comfortable couches for themselves, and managed to get some sleep during the night, although not a little disturbed by the squealing and trumpeting of elephants in their neighbourhood, from whom they were liable to have an unwelcome visit at any moment. As soon as dawn broke they set off for the bungalow, where Mr. Mackay was much amused and interested at the recital of their experiences. ' The wild elephants have always to be reckoned with when you camp in the heart of the forest,' he said. ' They are simply brimful of curiosity and mischief, and I make it a rule when occupying a hut to have a hole cut through the wall at the foot of my cot so that, in case an elephant should be moved to knock at my front door, I can slip out at the back without his suspecting it until I let him know by putting a bullet into him.* * That's a capital idea,' exclaimed Professor Orde. ' I must remember it in future ; and now I just want to get one more good specimen of a bison and then I shall have to move on, for we've really trespassed upon your hospitality too long already.' ' Not at all,' was the cordial response. ' I shall be very glad to have you stay another month. Such company as yours is more welcome than you can realise to a man who leads my lonely life, with only natives about me for the greater part of the year. THE PROFESSOR IN PERIL 149 But I suppose your time is limited and you must put it to the best advantage.' ' That's just the way of it,' returned the Professor. * I'm sure we'd all like staying on, for we've all enjoyed ourselves greatly here.' As he spoke he little imagined that he would be compelled to accept Mr. Mackay's kind invitation by what should ere long befall him. They set out on their bison hunt early the next morning, and travelled all day, going into camp at sundown. They were not disturbed by elephants this time, but they heard the bellowing of a bison, which augured well for their success on the morrow. Bright and early they started out with two of the best trackers in the lead, and tramped on through the forest for a mile or more ere they found signs of what they sought. Then the trackers smilingly pointed out the fresh tracks of a single animal, whereat the Professor said in a satisfied tone : 'A solitary bull, no doubt. Just what I want. We'll run him down if it takes all day.' But it took only another hour, as it proved, at the end of which the Mulcers halted, and, grinning gleefully (for they had been promised an extra rupee if they were successful), pointed to a bamboo-clump about eighty yards distant, before which stood a splendid bull bison, regarding them intently. I r si!ai ■■ I ISO THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS In an instant Professor Orde threw his gun to his shoulder and fired, aiming at the animal's nose so that the bullet might penetrate to the brain. But just as he did so the bull dropped his head, and the leaden missile struck too high, inflicting a serious but not fatal wound. Off galloped the bison, and they all followed fast, it being easy to track him. A stern chase of half-a- mile brought them in sight of him again. He was climbing a little grassy hill, and on their appearing, at once turned to charge. But another shot from the Professor, which took effect in the chest, caused him to change his mind, and he whisked round and continued his flight. Determined not to lose him, the Professor outran the others in the eagerness of his pursuit, and caught up with him again when he was standing still to recover his wind. He gave him a third bullet just behind the shoulder that caused him to go crashing down the slope, where he apparently fell, and then uttered a faint bellow. Now, when a bison bellows after being wounded it is almost a certain sign of death, and so the Professor followed the sound in the confidence of having no more to do except to give his quarry the coup de grace. The dense foliage made the light dim, and he was peering about trying to locate the bison, when THE PROFESSOR IN PERIL 151 suddenly he caught sight of his nose not a yard away from him. The wily animal had backed himself into a dense mass of creepers, and was lying in wait for his enemy. Uttering a startled shout, the Professor turned to flee, but the bull was too quick for him, and the next instant he was caught up by the irresistible horns and sent flying through the air, to the horror of the boys, who had just come within sight of what was happening. He lit upon his back, and before he could make a move, the maddened brute was at him again, striking him a blow upon the ribs that well-nigh smashed them in. 'Quick, Hugh! Quick!' cried Ralph, rushing forward to the rescue, and, when he had got within ten yards of the bison, taking a snap-shot at him without waiting to make sure of his aim. He could hardly miss the bulky form, but his bullet buried itself in the muscles of the back with no more effect than upon the trunk of a tree ; and, in his frantic anxiety to save his uncle, he was about to attack the bull with his clubbed rifle, when the cooler-headed Hugh held him back, saying : ' That will be no use. Let me try a shot.' He aimed more carefully, and the bullet seemed to go home, yet still the bison kept his feet, and, as the Professor was now lying perfecdy still, feigning to be dead, he began trying to turn him i t. r 1 xsa THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS over. In so doing he got one horn under his belt, and thus Hfted him bodily from the ground, but happily the strain proved too severe for the buckle, which broke and let him fall back again. The determined animal now endeavoured to rip his victim up with the point of his horn, but the ProfessCi', who through it all had kept his senses wonderfully, grasped the horn, and held on to it with his whole might. Meantime both boys had re-loaded, and were dancing about the bison, seeking to get a shot that would surely finish him. At last Ralph, heedless of anything else in his passionate concern for his uncle, went so close to the bull that the muzzle of his rifle almost touched his hide, and fired. This bullet did the business. The great creature made an effort to charge his last assailant that the light-footed boy had no difficulty in evading, staggered blindly on for a few yards, and then, with a despairing bellow that took his last breath, tumbled in a heap upon the turf. The boys were at once at their uncle's side, helping him to his feet, and asking anxiously how badly he was hurt. Professor Orde, pale and trembling, gave himself a shake and a rapid feeling over before replying. * I thought that about every bone in my body was broken,' he said, * but I really believe there isn't one of them, although I'm frightfully bruised and sore.' i, t I \ THE PROFESSOR IN PERIL 153 V And so it proved. Although apparently pounded into a jelly, he had marvellously escaped any serious injury, and would require only a couple of days' rest to be all right again. When he had recovered from his hurts and had got all his specimens properly packed, they took their leave of Mr. Mackay, profoundly grateful for all his kindness, and travelled back to Madras. Keenly as they had enjoyed their life in the forest, it was, all the same, very pleasant to get back to the comforts of civilisation, and they were glad enough to spend a week in the big city, with its luxurious hotels and plentiful places of interest. ' Where are we going next, uncle ? ' Hugh asked as they lingered over their dinner, which Ralph had been comparing with their plain fare in the forest, much to the disadvantage of the latter. *To Ceylon, I think,' was the response. ' The happy isle where the spicy breezes blow, eh ? ' inquired Ralph laughingly. * I wonder is it really so ? Ever since I began to sing the missionary hymn, I've had the notion of the place smelling of cloves and cinnamon and allspice. But I suppose it's not just like that ? ' ' Well, hardly,' smiled the Professor. ' The spices don't prepare themselves in the trees, and they have quite a different scent in the green from what they have in the dried state. But the missionary hymn is correct enough notwithstanding. Ceylon is so rich \ \/ (i I ^ I I '54 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS in flowers and foliage that it might almost be called one great garden, and its breezes are very apt to be laden with the sweet scent of flowers ; indeed, so much so as to be sometimes oppressive.' They took steamer to Ceylon, and a couple of days later sighted the pearl of the East Indies. All through the long, lovely day they glided by the shore of golden yellow sand lying below a bright green fringe of palms, while the forest-clad summits of the mountains loomed up in the far interior. The narrow channel which separates Ceylon from the mainland is quite too shallow to permit ocean steamers to pass, and it was therefore necessary to sail three-quarters way round the island in order to reach the port of Colombo. But the travellers had no fault to find with this. The boys greatly enjoyed the cool sea breezes and the novel scenery after their long sojourn ashore, and the Professor, having been working very hard over the packing and shipping of the specimens at Madras, was glad enough to spend a few days in perfect idleness. About the middle of the afternoon they steamed into the harbour, and with little delay were landed on the jetty with their belongings. ' Colombo enjoys the reputation of ^ ' \ one of the most beautiful cities in the Eas ^aid the Professor as they strolled up the jetty. ' i hop^ it will prove well deserved.' i / / CHAPTER XVIII HUGH TO THE RESCUE HAVING secured quarters at the hotel to which they had been recommended and which they found as cool and comfortable as could be wished, they made it their first business to explore the city. They found the streets delightfully clean and smooth and well shaded by tulip and cocoanut trees, the buildings that lined them, especially in the European quarter, although not of imposing height, of a pleasing style of architecture, and the whole atmosphere of the place prosperous and important. It was when they reached the aristocratic section, called the * Fort,' where were gathered nearly all the Government buildings, banks, hotels and principal shops, that they understood why Colombo was considered so beautiful. Along one side of it stretched a series of two- storeyed, many-windowed, pale yellow buildings that looked like palaces. 155 i / ^^ 156 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS ' What can they be for ? ' asked Ralph as he gazed at them admiringly. ' They're big enough to hold an immense number of people.' 'And so they need to be,' replied the Professor, ' for they are the barracks, and they're as full of British soldiers as an ant-heap of ants.' ' Well, they certainly believe in taking good care of their men,' remarked Hugh. ' It's no wonder they fight so splendidly when they go to war.' Beyond the barracks, with their broad drill- grounds, the spacious hospital stood on the left, and farther down the luxurious Club House, embowered in a grove of cocoanut trees, while all about were the shady bungalows of the wealthy folk, surrounded by well-kept grounds full of flowering shrubs and lovely plants that the travellers had never before seen outside of hot-houses. But most beautiful of all was the Galle Face, the finest esplanade in the world — a vast stretch of gently rolling, smooth green lawn, without a sign of fence, footpath, or road, having the sea on one side and on the other a body of water called Slave Lake, that lay almost in the centre of the city, with a carriage-drive winding along its southern shore and following every curve. They had arrived at the Esplanade just in time to see it at its best, for those who could indulge in carriages were all out to enjoy the balmy evening breezes, and along the road rolled a procession of ill HUGH TO THE RESCUE 157 dogcarts, landaus, barouches, and broughams drawn by shining, spirited horses that filled the boys with admiration. ' Can't we hire a rig and join the crowd ? ' ex- claimed Ralph eagerly. * It would be more fun than sitting here looking at them.' * No doubt we could, my boy,' Professor Orde answered, ' and may do so to-morrow evening, but for the present I'm quite content to sit here. It's all so beautiful and so restful.' They stayed on long after sunset, now watching the line of carriages gliding past, and nov/ turning their eyes seaward, where the tiny sail-boats of the fishermen making for the harbour dotted the calm blue expanse, whose surf broke lazily at their feet. The Esplanade was becoming deserted by the time they thought of returning to the hotel, and as they sauntered back they were discussing their future movements and the probable length of their stay in Ceylon, when there fell upon their ears the sharp, quick beat of hoofs that signified the approach of a horse at high speed. Quickly turning, they saw what sent a thrill through them, and caused them to brace themselves for sudden and strenuous action. Rushing down upon them at break-neck speed was a high dogcart containing a young lady dressed in the height of fashion, and drawn by a white polo pony that had manifestly bolted. '; ** ) r .1 I i I 158 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS The young lady held back upon the reins with all her might, but the pony evidently had got the bit in his teeth, for he was utterly out of her control. Fortunately, he seemed inclined to keep to the road, but if his mad career was not soon stopped disaster was inevitable. ' Quick ! ' cried the Professor. ' We must stop the brute,' and as he spoke he sprang to the other side of the road. The boys remained where they were, and when the galloping animal came up the Professor and Ralph made a spring for the bridle. The Professor missed, but Ralph caught hold of the rein close to the throat. For an instant he held on, and then the plunging pony shook him off, throwing him violently to the ground just clear of the wheel. Apparently their gallant efforts had proved fruitless. Yet it was not so. The momentary check caused by their interference just gave Hugh the chance to throw himself into the back of the dogcart and clamber over into the front ere the panic-stricken pony broke away again. Seating himself beside the young lady, whose blanched countenance showed her terror, Hugh grasped the reins, saying : ' Let me have them, please.' She complied without a word, almost without a look, for she seemed frozen with fright, and when HUGH TO THE RESCUE 159 »e h her hands were thus set free, employed them to grip the side of the seat to prevent herself from being thrown out. Getting a good hold upon the reins, Hugh braced his feet against the dashboard, and pulled back with all his strength. But the pony had a mouth of iron, and although Hugh did his utmost to jerk the bit from out of his teeth, the wicked animal defied his efforts, and kept on at undiminished speed. On through the twilight, along the smooth, curving carriage-road the dogcart sped, again and again avoiding as by a miracle collision with some other vehicle or the running down of some slow-moving pedestrian. The young lady neither spoke nor uttered a cry, but clung desperately to the seat, her white set features and staring eyes pitifully expressing her extreme terror. ' God help them ! ' exclaimed Professor Orde as they whirled away down the road. ' If Hugh can't bring that brute of a pony to a stop soon they may both be ki d.' ThedogcLjrt was now passing that part of the drive which was bordered on one side by the bungalows of wealthy residents, and there were shouts and screams from the men and women and children that were standing at the gates or lounging upon the verandahs. There were also many gallant yet futile attempts 'I i; 1 60 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS made to check the runaway, some of which nearly resulted in the would-be rescuer being badly injured. Through it all Hugh kept his place, and his grip upon the reins. Beginning to despair of getting the pony under control by main strength, the thought of another possible way of an escape from death or damage suggested itself as a final resort. He had kept his head in a remarkable degree, and lost all concern for himself in the intensity of his desire to save unscathed the beautiful girl by whom he sat, and to whom he said from time to time in a low but steady voice : * It'll be all right. Hold on to your seat. You shan't be hurt.' A furlong or so ahead the drive-way narrowed where the lake and the sea came close to each other, and Hugh told himself that if they could only reach this place before being overturned they might possibly get off scathless. On either side the road sloped gently to th? water, there being neither gutter nor raised sidewalk, and in this Hugh saw their best chance of avoiding serious injury. With frantic springs that threatened to burst his harness, the pony galloped on, just missing by a hair's- breadth a bullock-cart crawling slowly towards the city, and at last reached the narrow portion of the road. Then Hugh gathered himself for a supreme effort. HUGH TO THE RESCUE i6i le le Irt. Putting all his strength upon the reins for an instant he partially checked the pony's frantic speed, and the next instant, by a tremendous tug upon the left rein, so changed his course that he plunged down off the road and into the placid bosom of the lake ! So great was the animal's impetus that he ploughed through the water until he had lost his feet entirely, and at the same moment all desire to continue his crazy conduct. The unexpected immer- sion brought him completely to his senses, and he was now as anxious about himself as the instant before he had been reckless about his young mistress. Owing to its height the dogcart kept its occu- pants above the water, and Hugh, no less to his surprise than gratification, succeeded in turning it around without upsetting. Once pointed shore-ward the now subdued pony waded thither, and in another minute they were all back upon the road without a break to the outfit or a bruise to the two young people. Then the young lady found her voice. With the warm colour flushing her lovely cheeks she loosened her hands from the seat to lay them upon Hugh's, as she said in a voice that still trembled, though she smiled brightly : ' How can I thank you ? You have saved my life, and perhaps poor Snowflake's too.' Up to this point Hugh had had himself thoroughly II l62 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS in hand, but in the presence of ladies he was apt to be as bashful as he had just shown himself to be brave, and the warm words and grateful gesture of this fair young damsel, whose distress he had re- lieved quite in the spirit, if not exactly after the fashion, of a gallant knight of the olden time, threw him into confusion. He blushed hotly, and his tongue refused to do its duty in responding to the pretty expression of gratitude. With true feminine perception she understood the situation, and, not waiting for him to answer, went on to explain how it had happened. * You see, something went wrong with the harness, and Selim, my groom, got down to fix it, when Snowflake was startled by the loud crack of a whip from a passing carriage, and bolted before Selim could get back into his place. He never did such a thing before, and I can't imagine what possessed him, for although he's lots of spirit he has always been safe enough for me to drive.* As she thus chatted away Hugh's bashfulness left him, and he began to talk in his turn, so that by the time Professor Orde and Ralph had come up he was getting along most creditably. Congratulations having been exchanged, the young lady, who proved to be the daughter of the leading banker of the city, asked them for their cards, so that her father might call upon them to n HUGH TO THE RESCUE ,63 express his gratitude, and then, the groom putting m an appearance, much out of breath, but 3 reheved at no damage having been don; she Zve off home as cahiily as if nothing out of the ordinnrv experience of an afternoon had taken place ^ 'You've certainly distinguished yourself this time Hugh said the I"n,fe.ssor heartily, givi„,v his Trm an a.(ectio„ate squeeze. • The Ly you^^ cl nbed -nto the back of that dogcart fairly took my b ea h away and when you shot off down the road at such a fnghtful pace, I hardly hoped to see you a "a „ wihout sundry bones broken, to say nothing of y'or neck But, thanks to a kind Providence, you can"e out all nght and saved the young lady to^'and you have good reason to feel very proud of yourself !' ^i ■r 4 ' J i 1 ' CHAPTER XIX THE PURSUIT OF THE PANTHER THE sequel to Hugh's dashing exploit was a prompt call upon them at the hotel by Mr. Stancliffe, the father of the young lady, and an invitation for dinner, to which he would take no denial. They went that evening, and were sumptuously entertained at the banker's bungalow, where they had an excellent opportunity of seeing the luxury of the Orient, modified by European taste and refinement. With a shrewd appreciation of what boys would enjoy, he provided for their entertainment a little party of Hindoo jugglers, whose mystifying per- formance compelled even the Professor to confess astonishment, while Hugh and Ralph were simply lost in admiration of the tawny supple wonder- workers. ' I wonder if they couldn't be paid to teach us a couple of their tricks while we're here,' said Ralph, with such an eager expression that their host smiled sympathetically as he replied : 164 t' THE PURSUIT OF THE PANTHER 165 ' I am afraid that it is more than a question of pay, my boy. This juggling business is a family affair, and they begin to learn it in childhood. You would have to go back quite ten years to get a proper start, so I imagine it's hardly worth considering, is it ? ' ' I suppose so,' answered Ralph, with a profound sigh of disappointment ; ' but it would be fine to be able to do, say, half-a-dozen of those clever tricks when one got home. One might make quite a sensation among the fellows with them.' Mr. Stanclifife, with true British hospitality, would have plunged his guests into a regular whirl of sight-seeing and pleasuring, but it was not for this purpose they had come, and they were fain to decline his kind offers in order that they might give due attention to their work. One service he was able to do them, however, that they were only too glad to accept. A hunting party on a more than usually large scale was about to go into the interior in quest of the large game which there abounded, and Mr. Stancliffe thought it a good opportunity for Professor Orde to obtain what he sought. He accordingly was kind enough to propose to the leader of the party, who was no less a person, by the way, than a member of the English House of Lords, that the Professor and his nephews be permitted to join them. Lord Seymour proved most cordial. In the course 1 J I ■ ii •Ill i': 1 *#► 166 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS of his hunting trips all over the world he had visited the United States to add a grizzly bear to his count- less trophies of the chase, and had thoroughly enjoyed his sojourn in the Republic, for which he had come to feel a high admiration. He was consequently well pleased to have the trio join forces with him, and when Mr. Stancliffe brought him and the Professor together there was no doubt about the frank heartiness of his welcome. ' Delighted for you to pitch in with us, I'm sure,' he said, as he grasped Professor Orde's hand warmly, the monocle dropping from his eye as he spoke, and thus doing away with all stiffness. ' I've been in your country a bit, and had some jolly good sport there — killed a bear or two, you know, and a few mountain sheep. I hope you'll find things to your liking here, as I did there. I'm glad you've got your nephews. They'll find more to interest them, maybe, than we old stagers ; but we'll do our best to have a right good time, anyway,' and so the matter was settled. ' Mr. Stancliffe has got even with us all right now, hasn't he ? ' said Hugh, after they had left Lord Seymour, having arranged to start with him on the following morning. * You may well say so,* responded the Professor. ' I couldn't wish anything better than what we have ahead of us. We'll be able to see more and do (1 THE PURSUIT OF THE PANTHER 167 more in a week than we could otherwise have been able to in a month.' Taking train at Colombo for Kandy, they passed at first through a succession of rice-fields or swamps, alternating with jungle-covered knolls rising out of them like islands. The rice, or ' paddi,' was growing in soft mud covered with a few inches of water, the flow of which from one field to another was regu- lated by means of low dykes. The boys, being accustomed to see at home the most modern machinery and implements in use upon the farms, had a hearty laugh at the way the ryots were ploughing their fields preparatory to planting the crop. A pair of splay-footed buffaloes were hitched to a wooden plough that seemed to have been modelled after a dog's hind leg, and with this primitive affair they went floundering through soft mud up to their knees, making the merest pretence of a furrow, no less crooked than it was shallow, which any self- respecting English or American ploughman would have laughed to scorn. ' How rich the soil must be here ! ' remarked the Professor, ' when that is all the ploughing it needs. One is reminded of what Douglas Jerrold said of Australia, where, according to him, the earth was so kind that you had just to tickle her with a hoe and she laughed with a harvest.' As they proceeded, however, they left the low I '1 i 1 r, 1 68 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS :i plains for the mountains, and the track climbed so sharply that a second engine was required to draw the train upward. The scenery now became really grand, especially at one point, called Sensation Rock, where the line was cut into the side of the mountain, and they could look down from the narrow ledge nearly two thousand feet to where the bright green paddi-fields lay level in the sun, the ryots toiling in them appearing more like ants than human beings. Kandy seemed a shabby, uninteresting place after Colombo, and they remained there no longer than was necessary to complete arrangements for their sojourn in the forest away from all supplies. These were effected by Lord Seymour on a scale that made the boys open their eyes. While no man can endure hardships more stoically and cheerfully when it is absolutely necessary than an Englishman, no man is fonder of comfort and takes more pains to secure it when it will not inter- fere with his purpose; and as his lordship's funds were abundant, and he had learned by previous experience to make the most of his money, he provided everything that could contribute to the comfort of the whole party. There were tents, large and small, portable baths and lounging-chairs, folding-beds with soft mat- tresses, mosquito-nettings to ensure unbroken sleep. i. V I THE PURSUIT OF THE PANTHER 169 and a supply of table luxuries that guaranteed sumptuous dinners at the end of the day's huntinjr. 'If this just isn't the biggest kind of luck!' chuckled Ralph, giving Hugh an expressive punch in the ribs. ' To think of our hitching on to such a swell outfit as this ! We're bound to have the best sort of a time, aren't we ? * ' It certainly looks like it,' responded Hugh. ' What a fine man Lord Seymour is ! There's no nonsense about him.' They went many miles into the heart of the forest, and established their camp at a beautiful spot where a little turf-covered plateau was intersected by a rushing mountain stream that afforded an abundant supply of clear cool water. For the first few days life passed very pleasantly, but without any special incident. Professor Orde was busy from dawn until dark collecting specimens of beasts, and birds, and insects, the boys either helping him or going off on little expeditions of their own, while Lord Seymour and his friends went their ways according to their preferences. It certainly was a camp of liberty as well as of luxury. One night as, after a hard day's work under the hot sun, the hunters were all in profound slumber upon their comfortable beds, they were awakened by a furious roaring, which soon startled into wide wakefulness the entire company of men and beasts, and aroused a tremendous hubbub. V 1 70 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS i The elephants trumpeted, the bullocks bellowed, the horses neighed, the dogs barked, and the servants shouted as they ran hither and thither in panic-stricken confusion. Lord Seymour and Professor Orde, seizing their ritles, made haste to obtain lights and make inquiry into the cause of the tumult. It was not easy to obtain satisfaction from the conflicting answers of the terrified natives, but at last it became clear that a panther of unusual size had had the presumption to enter the camp and endeavour to carry off Lord Seymour's fox-terrier, which had been tied to a tent-peg. The brave little fellow had been badly mauled, but might recover from his wounds with careful treatment. Mis master was in a fine rage at the injuring of his pet. ' Who ever heard of such insulting impudence ! ' he exclaimed. ' The idea of the brute coming right into the centre of the camp in that fashion ! Well, he's challenged us, and we'll accept the challenge, eh, Professor ? ' ' Nothing would please me better,' replied Professor Orde. * I am extremely anxious to in- clude a good specimen of the panther in my collection, and I'll do my best to help you bag this fellow.' Accordingly the head shikaree was given orders to put his best trackers on the trail of the panther I I, 11 THE PURSUIT OF THE PANTHER 171 i as soon as day dawned, and then the disturbed camp settled down to finish its night's rest. By noon of the next day a native brought the welcome news that the panther had been marked down, and immediately after tiffin the whole party set out for the place. A hot and tiring tramp over several miles of broken ground brought them to it, and they found that the object of their quest had taken up his quarters on a steep hillside thickly covered with cactus. The top of the hill was flat and open, and along the crest a line of beaters was drawn up ready to hurl showers of stones down the declivity if the panther tried to escape that way. They all stood perfectly still and silent whilst, in a cautious whisper, the shikaree pointed out the exact bush in which the panther lay hidden. Dividing the distance around it, the hunters gradually closed in until they were only a few yards from the spot. Here they paused to reconnoitre. The silence was profound. Not even the quivering of a leaf betrayed the proximity of the fierce brute, and yet they all felt that, though invisible to them, it was aware of their presence, and its baleful eyes were fixed upon them as it crouched in tense readiness for a spring. Just then the assistant shikaree suggested that he should climb the slope of the hill to join the line of beaters on the ridge above, and Lord Seymour i i 172 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS expressly enjoined him to make a circuit around the clump of bushes, to enter which would have been dangerous. He had not gone many yards, however, when, with true native perversity, he struck well into the middle of the cover, and so stumbled right upon the panther, which, to his utter consternation, leaped out from a bush only a few feet in front of him. Paralysed with fright, the foolish fellow stood stock-still, not even being able to cry out, and the next instant the panther sprang upon him, hurling him backward to the ground ! Ml mid avc len, the the out )od the Ing CHAPTER XX A HARD FIGHT AT the sight of the shikaree's peril, the beaters, hitherto so silent, broke out into loud cries, to which the Professor and the boys added their exclamations of sympathy and concern. But before any of them could fire, the panther, most agile of all wild animals, had dashed away into the thicket, leaving his victim motionless upon the ground. ' Not killed, but precious near it,' was Lord Seymour's laconic pronouncement, after a ([ukk examination of the injured man. ' Some of you fellows look after him until we get back.' And, having thus relieved his mind of him, he hurried after the panther, which had now got well away. The beaters had done their best to stay the flight of the brute, filling the air with wild shrieks and pouring a shower of rocks into the thicket, with the result of driving him again into cover, this time in a dense clump of cactus on the top of the hill. This was practically impenetrable by man, and, as 173 ^1 'i . I j:|| f III s 1 fl' 174 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS the creature took no notice of the rocks that were pitched into his hiding-place, Lord Seymour dis- patched messengers to procure rockets wherewith to bombard him. In the meantime thev had a chance to rest after their lively exertions, of which they were all glad enough to avail themselves. When th(i breathless messengers arrived with the rockets, one after another of the noisy projectiles was sent whizzing into the cactus clump, without, however, producing any effect in compelling the appearance of the panther. ' Really, I don't know what to make of this,' said Lord Seymour, in a tone of chagrin. ' Unless the brute has gone to earth he must have slipped through the beaters, for he surely can't be in there.' He had hardly spoken when a succession of short savage roars broke upon his ears, mingled with the terrified shouts of the natives, the sounds coming from the far side of the thicket. Instantly he darted off in that direction. Professor Orde and the boys following in the rear as best they could, for Lord Seymour was a man of heroic build, and had the speed of a stag. They were just in time to witness a sight that thrilled them with both apprehension and admir- ation. The panther, springing suddenly from his retreat, had floored a beater with a lightning stroke of his paw, Id, A HARD FIGHT 175 and was now bounding towards Lord Seymour, who braced himself to meet him with rifle at shoulder. Owing to the beast's fearful rapidity of movement, it was impossible for Lord Seymour to take proper aim, and consequently, although he aimed with all the care that was practicable under the circumstances, the bullet merely grazed the top of the panther's head instead of striking just l)etw(^en the blazing eyes, and the next instant the furious creature had leaped upon him and seized him by the shoulders with both forepaws. With marvellous self-control the man, maintaining his upright position, strove, by means of the thick, wadded cape of his helmet to foil the efforts of his assailant to get at his neck, that he might tear open the great veins he knew were there, while no one dared fire lest the charge should lodge in the wrong body. Professor Orde was just running up to put the muzzle of his r'lle so close to the panther that there could be no mistake about the course of the shot, when, as if divining his purpose, the panther bore Lord Seymour violently backward, and crouched upon him, at the same time burying his long, sharp fangs in his left arm near the elbow. This sudden change of affairs disconcerted the Professor, and Lord Seymour might have had his hunting career brought to an untimely end there and then if Ralph, who had come up on the other side, i t ! (Li ;'! !i ,! T 176 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS V i ' ^' had not thrown himself down upon his stomach and taken a snap-shot at the panther from this position, thereby avoiding all risk of hitting the prostrate man instead. The bullet struck the panther just behind the shoulder, and, giving vent to a hideous snarl of rage, it released Lord Seymour and turned towards Ralph, who wisely kept prone upon the ground. The Professor now saw his chance, and fired in his turn, his bullet going home, but not reaching an immediately vital part ; and the panther, thus doubly assailed, instead of attacking either of them, or continuing its mangling of Lord Seymour, bounded away into an acacia thicket, where it lay silent and motionless. Lord Seymour was at once assisted to his feet and his injuries carefully examined. Happily they proved no worse than rather nasty flesh-wounds, which Professor Ordc, who had considerable sur- gical skill, bound up so effectually that his lordship insisted on continuing the hunt. * That brute must be bagged before night,' he protested, * and I'm going to stick to him until we do it. He shan't get off after mauling me in this style.' Hugh and Ralph were filled with admiration at the Englishman's pluck and endurance. ' Isn't he just splendid ! ' the former exclaimed enthusiastically. * He makes one think of St. George who slew the dragon.' A HARD FIGHT 177 he do the led )rge In which comparison Ralph heartily concurred. The rockets were again brought into use, and the acacia thicket so furiously bombarded that presently it took fire, the sharp crackling of the dry foliage being added to the other noises. Roused to frenzy by the overwhelming nature of this attack, the panther gathered himself for one last desperate effort against his foes, and rushed from his untenable retreat swift and straight as an arrow towards where the hunters stood in a little group intently watching the thicket, and listening for the cries of the beaters that would reveal the location of the animal. A hurried volley from the rifles greeted the charging creature, but had no effect in checking his momentum, which was so great as almost to carry him past the group, whose members opened out so as to give him room to go by. As he brushed by the shikaree, however, he twisted his supple neck in an indescribable fashion, and clasped the man's thigh in his extended jaws, thus bringing himself to a full stop, and bearing the native to the ground, where the two struggled in a close embrace. Lord Seymour, being unable to hold his rifle owing to the injured arm, had taken a hog-spcar instead, and, stepping up to the panther, he placed the point behind the animal's shoulder, and then, with a steady thrust, drove it straight through the heart, the whole \ ! 178 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS thing being as calmly done as if it were an everyday performance. This proved the finishing stroke. With one last fierce growl the brute collapsed upon the shikaree's breast, from which the next moment he was dragged by eager hands. The poor shikaree had been badly bitten, and once more Professor Orde's surgical skill was in demand ; but he soon had him bandaged up and sent back to camp upon an improvised litter borne by trackers. Upon examination and measurement the panther proved to be as fine a specimen as the Professor could desire for his collection, and the whole party of hunters felt that, in this instance at all events, the game was more than worth the candle. They were a pretty tired lot when they got back to camp just before nightfall, and after a refreshing clean-up they showed a most hearty appreciation of the really sumptuous dinner Lord Seymours servants had prepared, which would have done credit to a first-class hotel. ' This certainly is the perfection of camping-out,' said Ralph to Hugh, with a sigh of profound content, as they lay back in their 'long chairs.' ' I'd like to have a year of it, I think.' 'I'm with you,' replied Hugh. 'How grand it would be to do the rest of our trip in the same style ! But after we part company with Lord Seymour we'll have to go back to our own simple, plain ways.' A HARD FIGHT 179 it rle! re'll Listening to the conversation of the men, they presently heard something which caused them to prick up their ears. * I think it would be well worth seeing while you're here, Professor,' Lord Seymour was saying. ' You see, they have only one in the year, and you might not have another chance.' ' I would certainly like to see it, and I should be very grateful if you can arrange it,' responded Professor Orde heartily. ' See what, sir."* ' inquired Hugh, coming forward. * May we know too ? * 'Why, certainly,' was the smiling response. * Lord Seymour has just been telling me that the annual elephant-drive is soon to take place not far from here, and has suggested that we go over and see it. What do you say, boys ? ' The boys' faces lit up at once. What in the world could be more interesting than an elephant-drive, when those huge beasts would be rounded up and driven into a corral, just as was done with the catde on the ranges of the country from which they had come. * That would be simply immense ! ' they exclaimed joyfully. ' I thought it would catch you,' laughed Lord Seymour. * So we may consider the matter as settled, and I'll see about making the necessary arrangements in the morning.' ■ u 1 ?" T I So THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS 5 I i 1 The scene of the j^^reat event was a short clay's journey, and they travelled thither in a leisurely fashion, doing a little shooting l>y tlu; way. On their arrival at the corral they proceeded to inspect the immense elephant trap with lively interest. It consisted of an enclosure about six hundred feet in length by half as many in width, formed by a rampart of stout logs set firmly into the ground and lashed together with jungle rope woven of the pliant stems of the creepers which so abound in trojjical forests. Outside the rampart strong buttresses of green timber were set to protect it from internal pressure. There was but one entrance, and from this outward extended on either hand, at an angle of forty-five degrees, a line of strong palisading, which was almost completely hidden by the thick trees, but would serve admirably to prevent the elephants breaking away as they were being driven into the corral. * It would take an uncommon big elephant to get through this fence,' said Ralph, as he laid hold of one of the sturdy timbers. *Yes,' said Hugh; 'something in the way of a mammoth or mastodon, I should think ; and there's none of that kind likely to turn up here.' Large numbers of natives were on hand ready to act as beaters, the close of the rice-sowing season having left them some leisure, and it being in their own interest to lessen the number of wild elephants A HARD FIGHT ,8, as much as possible, because the dantrcr of their crops being devoured or destroyed by them was correspondingly decreased. The proceeding began by the host of beaters spreading out until they had described a circle completely around the locality where the elephants were known to be in numbers. Then this circle of humanity drew in towards the corral, at first advancing slowly and cautiously so that the wary animals might not be too much alarmed, but would mov.e slowly in the desired direction. All this, of course, took some time ; in fact, the patience of the members of Lord Seymour's party was rapidly becoming e.xhausted when the head shikaree made the welcome announcement that nearly half-a-hundred elephants had been enclosed within the circle, and were now concealed in the jungle not far from the stockade. The time had therefore come for them to take their places upon the lofty platform whi-h had been specially prepared for them and which commanded the gate of the corral. li ■'I 1 ' 'i I ' I ^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) // z 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■- !■■ IIIII22 MS — 112.0 II 1.4 1.8 1.6 P 71 ^V ^;. /A *. O / Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 t" 6^ CHAPTER XXI THE GREAT ELEPHANT-DRIVE m ii \ : I I ?' A BSOLUTE silence on our part is necessary, now,' said Lord Seymour to the others, * for if the wild elephants should get sound or v/ind of us they would break away just at the critical moment, and give no end of trouble.' So the little party of visitors, although thrilled with excitement, disposed themselves upon the plat- form, which was just big enough to hold them, in the most comfortable manner possible, and eagerly awaited the oncoming of the elephants. Not far from them a group of tame elephants, who were to play an important part later on, were picketed beneath the trees, where they lazily fanned themselves with leaves. The silence was profound, and the two boys, being much bothered by the flies that seemed to be doing their best to make them restless, whispered to each other as they lay close together. Suddenly the signal was given by the chief shikaree, and the stillness of the forest was broken 182 M THE GREAT ELEPHaNT-DRIVE 183 by the wild shouts of the beaters and guards, the roll of drums and tom-toms, and the sharp rattle of guns. At the same time the watch-fires which extended in long lines from either side of the entrance to the corral were piled high with dry fuel, and sent their fierce flames shooting up among the trees as though the whole forest *vere aflame. The wild elephants, rudely aroused to the existence of a danger whose proximity they had not in the least suspected, set up a frantic trumpeting, and at first huddled together like frightened sheep. But this paralysing panic soon passed away, and presently the mob of them broke up, as the larger ones, having recovered their senses to some extent, proceeded to seek safety in flight. But they soon found that was possible in only one direction. Wherever else they turned they were met by frightful outcries, by volleys of musketry (blank cartridges, of course), and, if needs be, by the sharp prick of spears, while blazing fires appalled them. Completely bewildered, the whole herd of mighty beasts, squealing and trumpeting so as to be heard even above the tremendous uproar, drove madly toward the only spot that seemed free from their tormentors — the silent, shadowy corral. Into this they piled pell-mell, and when the last of them had entered the stout timbers constituting the gate were thrust into place and the trap was complete. 1 • V '\s\\ 1 84 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS W t' M ;" *Hip! hip! Hurrah!' shouted Ralph, springing to his feet and waving his pith hehnet over his head, for it was an immense rehef to be able to break silence after the long suspense. * That was splendidly done ! They're all in now, and they won't get out again in a hurry.' ' It has certainly proved most successful,' said Lord Seymour, looking as pleased as if he would have been responsible for any failure. ' I have never seen a finer herd of wild fellows.' 'And I can never be sufficiently grateful to you for enabling us to see this,' said Professor Orde, putting out his hand. ' It is certainly an experience not to be forgotten.' As soon as the great gate was shut, vast bonfires were lighted all around the stockade, and these lit up the strange scene most effectively. The elephants, in terrified panic, first dashed to the very extremity of the enclosure, but, being stopped by the powerful fence, charged back to the gate, which they, of course, found closed upon them. Wild with rage and terror, they hurried around the corral seeking another outlet, but finding none. They then made a gallant attempt to force the stockade. The guards, however, were ready for them, and with charges of powder, thrusts of spear, and waving of torches, repulsed their attacks, sending them back into the centre of the corral. 9 I THE GREAT ELEPHANT-DRIVE 185 It s^ Here they would remain for a while to regain their wind and take counsel of each other ; and then, moving all together, they would start off in another direction as if hoping to find some point they had previously missed, only to be foiled once more, and sent back forlornly to the centre. Dusk was now drawing near, and Lord Seymour announced that nothing further would be done until the morrow, the elephants being watched all night by relays of natives. * The poor big things ! ' said Hugh as the party left the platform. ' They won't have much rest this night, will they ? ' * No, indeed, my boy,' answered the Professor, ' but that will make them all the easier to manage to-morrow.' When they returned to the place in the morning they found the captives huddled together in a most dejected state, their trunks hanging limply, and their whole appearance suggesting complete submission. * And now what will they do with them ? ' asked Ralph of Lord Seymour. • They're rather too big to rope and throw down as they do the cattle in our country.' ' No, they could hardly do that,' responded Lord Seymour, with a smile. ' Bi^t they have another method of handling them that is just as good in its way, as you shall see.' The party resumed their places on the platform, 'f 'Hi I 1 ! I :i i 1 86 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS r^ and were not kept long waiting for the next stage of the performance. Tethered just beneath them were several female elephants well trained to their special duty, and presently one of these, a large, handsome animal, was admitted into the corral. With a cunning air of easy composure she moved in a leisurely fashion towards the captives, occa- sionally pausing to pick up a tuft of grass or a few juicy leaves. As she approached the herd they made ready to salute her, and the big tusker that was their leader, advancing a few paces, passed his trunk over her head with a polite caress, and then slowly retired to his companions. The sly Delilah followed this Samson with the same laggard step, and sidled close up to him in quite a feminine fashion, which he seemed to appreciate. But, alas ! these winning ways meant mischief, for they enabled the native, who acted the perilous part of nooser, and who was following stealthily behind her, to creep up and slip a strong noose over the hind feet of the tusker. Discovering his danger at once, the bir fellow shook off the noose and turned to attack the man, but Delilah would not permit this. She faced Samson, smote him with her trunk, and drove him back into the herd. I, : ^ THE GREAT ELEPHANT-DRIVE 187 hi m i- Two more elephants were now sent to Delilah's assistance, and, working together with wonderful intelligence, these three managed to cut out Samson from the huddled herd, and hold him while the nooser got his rope securely fastened, and then re- tired with the two decoys, leaving the field to Delilah. She accordingly seized the rope with her trunk, and drasfSfed her victim tail first toward a tree. Giving the end of the rope one turn around the trunk, she endeavoured to haul Samson close up to it. But he opposed this so strongly that the feat was beyond her strength, and one of the other elephants, coming to her assistance, placed herself bravely against the struggling prisoner, and, with a push of the shoulder, literally backed him into the tree, Delilah ^neanwhile cleverly hauling in every foot of rope thus gained until the huge beast was bound fast to the tree-trunk. Then up came the third decoy, and under the protection of the three the nooser fastened the ropes around Samson's other legs, securing the end of each to a tree, and the capture was completed. 'It is really astonishing!' exclaimed the Professor, who had been watching the whole proceeding with absorbed interest. * The intelligence of these great creatures is almost human. One could scarcely credit it if he did not see it with his own eyes. In my future lectures upon the elephant I shall not forget to include what I have witnessed to-day.' 11 I H l^i n I-- M: i;s Hi i88 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS When Delilah and her two capable assistants had moved away from the captive he seemed to awake to a full consciousness of his condition. Hitherto he had kept fairly calm, but the moment he was left alone he made the most vigorous efforts to get free. He felt the ropes with his trunk, and tried to un- fasten the knots ; he drew backward to release his fore-legs, and then leaned forward to extricate his hind ones, making the stout trees to which they were secured tremble and quiver as if in a gale. Then, frantic at the futility of his struggles, he positively screamed, raising his trunk high in the air and sending forth the shrill, piercing notes until his breath was exhausted, when, as if yielding to despair, he fell over on his side, laid his huge head to the ground with the trunk doubled under, and so pre- sented such a picture of abject misery that the feelings of the boys were moved to sympathy, and they exclaimed in chorus : * The poor old fellow ; he looks as if his heart was broken.' One by one the other elephants were treated in similar fashion, until all had been made captive. But they did not all meet their fate in the same manner, for some stood motionless as if paralysed with fright, while others fretted and writhed in vain fury, and others still, lying prone upon the earth, gave vent to their despair in low pathetic moans. 1 f Si ■-<■,■^ ■ ' THE GREAT ELEPHANT-DRIVE 189 * What is done with them now ? ' inquired the Professor of Lord Seymour. * Oh, they keep them in the corral until they arc thoroughly subdued, and then they are given a course of training which teaches them to respect man and obey his orders, especially when these are enforced by a sharp-pointed hendoo, a sort of spear that is used by the native trainers.' The elephant-drive being over, the whole party spent some further time hunting various sorts of game in the forests, and then broke up, as the limit of Professor Orde's stay in Ceylon had been reached. Parting from Lord Seymour with much regret, they returned to Colombo and then took steamer for Singapore, where, however, only a brief stay was made, as the Professor was anxious to reach Borneo with the least possible delay. The boys were delighted at their going to Borneo. They had read so many stories about this wonderful island, the second largest in the world, and inhabited by the strangest men and beasts to be found in all the East. Their talk was of the Wild Man of Borneo, of the Dyak head-hunters, of the orang-outan, and so forth, and they promised themselves even a more exciting time than they had had in India, and as the trim little steamer Rajah Brooke, appropriately called after the famous founder of Sarawak, bore them southward they were in the highest spirits. ': i ■' ii !ii *'« CHAPTER XXII STORM-TOSSED ^^ ARAWAK itself was their port of destina- ^^ tion, and they steamed thither through a ^^-^ sultry, summer sea for three long, lazy days, during which Professor Orde told them much of the remarkable story of the man after whom the vessel that bore them was named. It was in 1839 when a young Englishman, James Brooke, came to Sarawak with a heart full of good- will to men, and the serious purpose of being an apostle of reform and good government to the country, which he found in a fearful state of con- fusion, anarchy, and the cruellest injustice. The degree of oppression endured by the Dyaks at the hands of the Malay rulers was almost beyond belief, and the great heart of the noble Englishman was stirred to its depths. He resolved to consecrate his life to the task of redeeming the unfortunate people. How he devoted his whole fortune as well as his entire energies to the undertaking, the tremendous 190 cstina- )ugh a y days, of the vessel James good- ing an to the )f con- Dyaks >eyond shman lecrate tunate as his indous STORM-TOSSED 191 difficulties he had to overcome, the awful perils through which he passed, and the extraordinary success that ultimately crowned his efforts, the Professor related to his intently interested audience of two. 'As the result of that one man's work,' he con- cluded, 'there is the present territory of Sarawak, cont:tining 25,000 square miles, and a quarter of a million people, including Dyaks, Malays, and Chinese, where life and property are as safe as in our own land, where the people are peaceful, pros- perous, and happy, and where everybody, no matter what his race or colour, gets even-handed and speedy justice.* ' And is Rajah Brooke still alive ? Shall vve have any chance of seeing him ? ' asked Ralph eagerly, for the boy was an intense hero-worshipper, and loved to see men that had 'done thinofs.' * Ah, no. You would have had to come here a good many years ago to see Rajah Brooke, for he died in 1868,' was the smiling reply; 'but his nephew rules in his stead, and is a worthy successor of the great man.' Kushing, the capital of Sarawak, lay nearly twenty miles up the Sarawak River, and as the steamer ploughed her way through the yellow current the boys were amused at the Malay houses which lined the low banks of the stream. The Malay loves water, and wherever possible \ I 193 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS builds his house on poles over a running stream. If he cannot manage this he builds over stagnant water, and if that is not available he contents him- self with the softest mud he can find. As these Malays could not very well build over the Sarawak River, they had planted their spindle- legged dwellings with thickly thatched roofs in the soft mud of the river-bank, and very odd -looking affairs they were, with the slimy, slippery, slanting logs jutting out from them which did duty as wharves, the boats being fastened to poles stuck deep in the mud. Presently the clean white ' go-down ' (business house) of the Borneo Company came into view, and then the Chinese Bazaar, a long row of Chinese shops solidly built. On the opposite side of the river stood the fort, a substantial brick structure, capable of withstanding a heavy attack ; and above the fort, at the top of a grassy slope overlooking the town, was the Astana, the Rajah's palace, con- sisting of three complete houses, each possessing two storeys instead of one, as in the ordinary bungalow. The river was filled with various craft, including coasting schooners, Malay trading praus, Dyak sampans, Chinese junks, ocean-going ships, and two steam vessels representing the Rajah's navy. Professor Orde had a letter of introduction to the Rajah from Lord Seymour, who was an old friend, and as soon as they had got settled at the hotel, r tream. ignant s him- i over Dindlc- L in the Doking anting ity as stuck jsines:s view, Chinese of the ucture, above ooking 2, con- ng two ^alow. :luding Dyak nd two to the friend, ; hotel, ^ STORM-TOSSED ,93 which bore the appropriate name of the 'Rajah's Arms,' he forwarded this to the palace by a messenger. Within an hour a handsome young Englishman in a white uniform and cork helmet appeared, who mtroduced himself as aide-de-camp to his Excellency, and in his name invited the visitors to dinner that evening. The invitation was at once accepted, and when the aide had taken his departure, after offering his services for anything he mi-ht be able to do, Professor Orde exclaimed : ' What big-hearted peop^- these Ergiish are ! If you only are properly accreditr I to them there is no kindness they are not ready to do for you. One certainly learns to admire and like them immensely.' The dinner was much enjoyed by them all. They fonnd the Rajah a delightful host, surrounded by a staff of men in the prime of life, who had all had their full share of adventure, and could tell good stories of their thrilling experiences. The palace itself was a veritable museum of trophies of the war and the hunt, and Hugh and Ralph, with a couple of the young Englishmen to explain things, had a grand time going from room to room and seeing the contents, so bewildering in their variety. ' I believe I should like to take service with the 13 I! 1 I ' ': I l( ;! ! . I IB 194 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS Rajah for a year,' said Ralph. ' I wonder would he have me ? ' ' I'm quite sure he would,' responded one of the young men, with a cordial smile, 'if you were in earnest about it. But I suppose you are merely joking.' ' I suppose I am,' Ralph answered, with a well- feigned sigh. * My uncle would no doubt object, as I must go back to college as soon as we get home again. But I believe I'd like it, all the same.' Meanwhile the Professor was detailing to the Rajah his plans and purposes, and receiving his assurance of assistance in the carrying of them out, so that they were all enjoying themselves thoroughly, and were quite sorry when the hour came for their return to the hotel. ' I find I shall have more difficulty in getting good specimens of what I am particularly after — the orang-outan — than I thought,' said the Professor on the way home. 'There are none of them near Sarawak, and, the fruit season being over, they have retired to the depths of the forest, where we shall have to follow them.' * Well, that won't matter, will it, uncle .-* ' said Hugh confidently. 'When you become better acquainted with the Borneo forest you'll find it matters a good deal,* returned the Professor, with a significant smile. The Rajah had kindly placed at their disposal ■i STORM-TOSSED 195 one of the Government schooners to take them to the Kapooas River, in whose district the orang- outan, or 'mias,' as the natives call it, was to be found, and they set out in her on the afternoon of the following day. In order to reach the river it was necessary to sail out into the South China Sea so as to give Cape Datu a wide berth, and during the night a storm sprang up with the suddenness for which these waters are noted. The schooner was a staunch craft, and had admir- able sea-going qualities, but so tremendous was the violence of the gale that there was no alternative save to scud before it with bare poles, the storm-jib that was set being blown from the bolt-ropes. Through the long, wearying, anxious day the sturdy schooner drove southward, and the boys, who had never experienced anything of the kind before (for hitherto Neptune had dealt tenderly with them), were appalled at the fury of the elements. The sombre, almost solid-seeming clouds lowered all around them, confining their horizon to a circle of a few miles. The great waves rolled upward one upon the other as though they sought to fling their foaming crests against the frowning sky. Tlie wind screamed and shrieked and howled like a great chorus of frantic demons, and amidst all this wild turmoil the trim little vessel, alone in the vast space of frothing billows that tossed her hither and thither -4>. r II t it II i. Il III 196 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS as lightly as though she were a mere chip, carried her freight of human beings right dauntlessly. Although they might have been far more comfort- able in the snug cabin, Professor Orde, with Hugh and Ralph, preferred remaining on deck, where they crouched in the lee of the main-mast, and watched the course of the steamer with anxious eyes. * Do you think there's any fear of her founder- ing ? ' Hugh inquired, his colourless cheeks and drawn face showing how full of apprehension he was, although not an expression of alarm had fallen from him. * No, Hugh, I do not,' replied the Professor reassuringly. ' She's a staunch vessel, if she is small, and they know how to handle her so well that we'll get through all right.' The gale, which had now almost reached the magnitude of a typhoon, whirled the schooner toward the Malayan Archipelago, where other dan- gers than those of wind and wave lay in wait. ' I do hope the storm will have spent itself before night, so that it will be possible to get some sail on the schooner,' said the Professor later on, ' for unless we have something to give her steerage- way she may be piled-up on one of the islands we. will ere long be coming to.' The entire crew of the vessel, with the exception of the captain and mate, who had both been blue- jackets in the British Navy, were Dyaks — fine, STORM-TOSSED 197 tall powerful fellows, who obeyed orders with an accuracy and promptitude that had commanded the admiration of the passengers. They had none of them shown the slightest con- cern about the situation. So far as their bearing went, they might have been sailing along under blue skies with a comfortable breeze. At last there came a kind of lull in the fury of the wind, and, although the waves still rolled heaven- ward, the captain ordered a fresh jib to be set and the foresail hoisted with a quadruple reef. Now was the opportunity of the men to show their seamanship, and they certainly did it. Their lithe black forms passed here and there as they were needed with a deft qu?ckness and perfect sureness of movement that was a delight to watch. Not an order was misunderstood or wrongly executed, and in a little time, despite the violent opposition of wind and wave, the jib and foresail were securely set in place. The good effect of the sails was at once evident. They seemed to lift the sturdy schooner so that she no longer plunged her nose into the billows that had hitherto been coming aboard with alarming frequency, and causing keen discomfort, as all on deck had been drenched to the skin throughout the day. The sails also gave the schooner steerage-way, and, if they were not blown out of their bolt-ropes, would make a great difference in the whole situation. ■, * ir: n 1 198 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS ' Things look better now, don't they ? ' remarked Ralph, with sudden cheerfulness. ' We've got through the worst of it.' * It certainly seems like it,' returned the Professor. ' What we need now is to get under the lee of an island until the weather improves, and then beat our way back to Borneo.' When he spoke there was no sign of land, but late in the afternoon it was sighted away to the south-west, and the course of the schooner was at once shaped for it as far as was possible. The struggle to reach it proved a very difficult and exciting one. Both wind and waves apparently were determined to keep the schooner within their power, and they buffeted her remorselessly as she gallantly fought her way toward the haven of shelter that the dark mass upon the edge of the horizon promised. The seamanship of her captain was something to study. He stood at the wheel, a thick-set, weather- beaten Jack Tar with a short dense beard, through which issued a voice like a trumpet, and gave his orders in commanding tones that rang above the roar of the elements, and were instantly obeyed by his crew of stalwart, sinewy Dyaks. Certainly they deserved to win in this contest with the elements. his CHAPTER XXIII A MIDNIGHT ATTACK AS the anxious hours wore on the land drew slowly nearer, and proved to be a tree- covered island under whose lee they could hardly fail to find the shelter they sought. The situation had now resolved itself into a race with the on-coming darkness, for if it fell ere they reached safe anchorage they must needs stand out to sea again, as it would not do to take any risks of being driven ashore. In spite of their concern, the three passengers could not help being filled with admiration at the conduct of the crew. ' I never saw more perfect discipline in my life,* said Professor Orde. 'These black fellows work just like machines.' In the end skill and courage triumphed, and the doughty little schooner, without the loss of a spar, slipped out of the grasp of the storm into the snug shelter of a cove, whose waters were hardly rippled by the mighty wind roaring over the tree-tops. 199 200 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS 4 a 1 i It was a vast relief to all on board. Even the bronzed captain made no pretence of concealing his satisfaction as he at last took his brawny hands from the wheel which they had gripped for so many hours, and stretched himself with a mighty yawn, exclaiming : ' Shiver my timbers, but that was a tough bit of work ! I wasn't at ail sure we'd weather it.' * We've both you and your men to thank that we did weather it,' said the Professor, putting out his hand, ' I never saw a vessel handled better.' The captain smiled and shifted his quid. * Oh, they make pretty good jackies,' he replied ; ' but they take a sight of licking into shape.' The quiet of the haven which they had 5 o oppor- tunely made was inexpressibly welcome after their long tossing about, and no sooner had a hasty meal been prepared and disposed of than all hands, save the two Gailors left on watch, turned into their bunks for a much-needed rest. That even these two, whose duty it was to watch, should have found their eyelids heavy was not to be wondered at, and ere midnight had come they also were as soundly asleep as those in their bunks below. Had they been awake their keen eyes, accus- tomed to penetrate the unbroken gloom of tropical forests, could hardly have failed to notice c .rtain dark forms moving on the shore as silently as 7 A MIDNIGHT ATTACK 301 I \ shadows. They were engaged in launching light canoes, which they sh'pped into the water without the sh'ghtest noise, and, stepping into them, glided toward the schooner with no apparent use of the paddles. The distance was not great, and though the canoes moved slowly they soon covered it, ranging along- side the vessel unseen and unsuspected. Here they paused while their occupants listened intently, endeavouring to gain some idea as to whether those on board were all below deck or might be just behind the bulwarks. The perfect silence satisfying them, their lithe, dark forms were lifted to the taffrail, and they were about to spring over when a cry of alarm rang out, which brought the two sleepers on the deck to their feet, and those who lay in cabin and fo'c's'le tumbling up from their bunks. Ralph, ordinarily a heavy sleeper, had been so impressed by the long, hard struggle with the storm, that it caused him to have disturbing dreams. One of these was, in fact, a regular nightmare, from which he awoke, trembling like a leaf in the wind, and with the cold sweat beading his forehead. The close, warm air of the little cabin felt so oppres- sive that he slipped out of his bunk and crept quietly upthecompanion-waytothedeck,justin time to catch a glimpse of the dim, dark forms vaulting over the bulwarks. n Il i i^i Hi ; / IB' m 202 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS Close upon his cry the captain and mate rushed up, revolvers in hand, the Professor and Hugh at their heels, carrying their rifles, while out of the fo'c's'le poured the crew, snatching up belaying-pins and marlin-spikes, and unsheathing the long, keen knives they knew so well how to use. One quick glance was sufificient to explain the situation to the captain. ' Malay pirates ! ' he shouted in a stentorian tone that awoke the echoes of the hitherto silent cove. * Shoot the scoundrels ! Overboard with them ! ' The next instant his revolver and the mate's spirted flame, and the sharp reports followed each other so quickly that they almost seemed continuous. Ralph darted back into the cabin after his rifle, and when he returned with it he found the deck a scene of struggle and uproar. The pirates, although for the instant checked by their unexpectedly warm reception, had not taken to flight, but flung themselves upon the crew with reckless ferocity, wielding their deadly krisses. Although in a measure confused by the sudden- ness of the attack, those on board the schooner met it with a firm front, and the Malays went down like nine-pins before their crushing blows or well-aimed bullets. In numbers the pirates seemed quite two to one, and they no doubt relied upon their superiority to J1 ' i A MIDNIGHT ATTACK 203 carry the vessel, but they soon had reason to think that they had counted without their host. The Dyaks fought superbly. In size and strength they were individually more than a match for the Malays, and this went far towards making up for the inferiority of their weapons, most of them having only belaying-pins. Gathered in a group at the stern the five white folk, with their revolvers and rifles, kept all assailants at bay, while putting more than one of them out of the fight. Hugh and Ralph surprised themselves by not feeling panic-stricken in the least, although it was their first experience of mortal combat. They had no particular desire to kill the pirates, but they were fully determined that they should not be killed by them, and so as fast as they emptied their rifles they re-loaded them. For some time — how long none of the participants assuredly could tell — the conflict raged without decided advantage on either side. A number of the pirates had been either killed or disabled and several of the Dyaks laid low, but none of the five whites were touched. Presently the Malays began to show signs of wavering. They allowed themselves to be driven back towards the bulwarks, and then the captain thought that the moment for more vigorous action had come. tin -'I < .1 i '• I :H ■ s if 204 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS i: ill ' Give it to the scoundrels now ! ' he cried, as he sprang forward. ' Pitch them all overboard ! ' And suiting the action to the word he grasped one of them in his brawny hands, lifted him into the air as easily as though he had been a mere child, and hurled him clear over the bulwarks into the water. The mate and the Professor followed his excellent example, and the two boys, not to be outdone, endeavoured to -combine in doing likewise. They grabbed the nearest pirate, one on either side of him, and put forth their strength to master him. But the wily fellow had taken the precaution to rub his body liberally with oil, so that he was as slippery as an eel, and they could hardly hold him, let alone toss him overboard. Uttering strange cries, he fought them with sur- prising strength, considering his seemingly slender frame, and although neither of them would for the world have confessed it, they both rather regretted that they had tackled him. In the struggle they became separated somewhat from the rest of the combatants, their confused movement working them towards the stern, and at last they landed in a heap close against the curve of the taffrail. Just how it happened neither Hugh nor Ralph had the slightest idea, but in some inexplicable manner the Malay got Hugh down, and was r A MIDNIGHT ATTACK 205 as he rasped ito the child, to the cellent itdone, They side of him. tion to was as d him, th sur- jlender for the jretted lewhat nfused and at curve Ralph )licable d was striving to throttle him with his sinewy fingers, when Ralph fastened his grip upon his throat so tightly that he became helpless in his turn. His fingers relaxed, and he rolled over beside the boy apparently conquered. With a great sigh of relief Ralph let go his grip, and stood up to draw Hugh to his feet. At that moment the Malay iecovered himself, and saw his opportunity. Like a flash he sprang at Ralph, threw him over, and would have got clean away had not Hugh, suddenly seizing him by the ankles, brought him headlong to the deck, which his head struck with such stunning force that he lay there as though dead. • Hurrah ! ' cried Ralph. * He's our prisoner now. Let us tie him up,' and taking a ropes-end he made haste to secure the pirate's arms and legs. ' I'm so glad he didn't get away,' said Hugh, in a tone of profound satisfaction. • Now let us see if we can help uncle.' But by this time the struggle was practically over. Desperately as they had fought, the pirates were beaten back, and, leaping into their canoes, they disappeared, leaving their dead and wounded on the schooner. Lights were now procured, and the results of the midnight attack ascertained. It was found that the five whites had been so fortunate as to escape 1 k 1 ¥ 206 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS without a serious hurt, both the captain and mate receiving slight bruises, of which they made light. But the crew had suffered more heavily, two of them being killed outright, and several others so severely wounded as to require careful attention. ' Well, we may certainly consider ourselves very fortunate,' said Professor Orde, * for if it had not been for Ralph's timely warning we might all have had our throats cut by these villains. Your touch of nightmare was a blessing in disguise, wasn't it, my boy } ' and he patted his shoulder affectionately. As for the boys' prisoner, who lay sullen and silent, no doubt quite persuaded that his head would presendy be cut off to decorate the schooner's cabin, it was decided to bring him back to Sarawak for the Rajah to pass sentence upon him. The next morning being fine and the wind fair> the schooner resumed her voyage, and reached her destination, the Kapooas River, without further incident. Ascending the river for some distance, they came to a village of the Sea Dyaks, beyond which the vessel could not go, so Professor Orde and the boys landed with their belongings. The headmen of the village greeted them hospit- ably, and conducted them up the river-bank to the most remarkable establishment they had ever seen. Instead of the usual clusters of huts, they beheld one immense house, quite two hundred feet in length r r '1 A MIDNIGHT ATTACK 207 and about thirty in depth, standing upon round posts set firmly in the ground, above which they lifted it ten feet or more. At either end was a door, to which the only means of access was a small tree- trunk cut on the upper side into notches, which served as a sort of apology for steps. The front of this huge house was entirely open, and the floor extended out thirty feet farther on additional posts, thus affording a convenient verandah, upon which the women were sitting and the children playing as merrily as if there were no possible chance of their tumbling over the unprotected edge. v^iimbing up the notched tree-trunk, they were met at the door by a number of semi-naked men and women, and wholly naked children, who cried in chorus, 'Good-day, sir,' while they smiled in friendly greeting. Clean mats were spread upon the floor for them to sit upon, and with the aid of an interpreter con- versation with the elders was opened, the women and children crowding around to have a good look at the * orang-puteV (white men) who had thus appeared amongst them. Not being required to assist in the palaver that their uncle was with some difficulty carrying on, Hugh and Ralph, after a little, got up and strolled about the immense structure, examining it and its contents with lively interest. Hanging upon the numerous posts which I! I . 2o8 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS sustained the structure were deer antlers, boars' heads, weapons, fish-traps, and paddles, and all along the central wall the doors opened wide into the family rooms, affording odd glimpses of the life within. Not a nail, not even a wooden pin, had been used in the construction of the house. From top to bottom it was lashed together with rattans. ' Who'd ever have thought that such a big place could be put together in this way ? ' said Hugh. ' It is certainly wonderful.' In the centre of the long hall a fire was burning upon a bed of earth, and above the fire hung a large open-work bag filled with strange-looking objects which attracted th'? boys' attention. They were so black and grimy with smoke and soot — those nearest the fire, indeed, being quite charred — that at first th ir true character was not discernible. But after a brief inspection Ralph gave a shudder, and grasped Hugh's arm as he whispered : ' They are human heads ! Ugh ! how horrid ! ' 7 7 CHAPTER XXIV THE ESCAPE FROM THE FLAMES RECOILING in disgust from these repulsive trophies of their martial prowess, which the Dyaks regarded as their most precious possessions and could not be induced to part with on any terms, Hugh and Ralph returned to their uncle, who had by this time about completed his pew-wow with the headmen of the settlement, much to his own relief and satisfaction. * I have made very satisfactory progress,' he told them, with a well-pleased expression upon his countenance. * They will supply us with sampans and paddlers, and we can start up river the first thing in the morning.' •And shall we stay here to-night ?' asked Hugh, in rather an anxious tone, for the better acquainted he became with the long-house the less he liked it. There were too many children, and chickens, and dogs, and other noisy and restless creatures for ever getting in the way to suit his taste. He distinctly preferred a quieter sleeping-place. 14 209 i ' 7 210 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS Uv' 'Why, don't you think it is' quite a fine hotel?' responded the Professor in a bantering tone. ' No, I do not,' retorted Hugh. 'And I'm of the same opinion,' chimed in Ralph. ' Do let us camp among the trees. We'll be much more likely to have a good night's rest.' As Professor Orde had never intended doing any- thing else, it was easy for him to acquiesce in this proposition with the best of grace, and so their camp was made in a snug spot a couple of hundred yards away from the long-house. Although they had considered only their own comfort in this, as events proved it was a most fortunate arrangement. Having at last got rid of the many curious visitors that thronged their camp they had turned in for the night, and were sleeping soundly when they were aroused by loud shouts and frantic shrieks coming from the village, and on opening their eyes beheld a startling sight. The long-house was on fire and burning fiercely in the centre, with the flames making rapid progress towards the ends. Darting about the platform in an apparently bewildered manner were the men, women, and children, some intent only upon saving them- selves, others endeavouring to save at least a portion of their belongings. As the notched tree-trunks that did duty for steps were utterly inadequate to provide a way down for ' I THE ESCAPE FROM THE FLAMES 2n the panic-stricken mob, some of the men were leaping to the ground at the risk of broken limbs, and the terrified mothers were even dropping their children over, preferring the chances of the fall to the cer- tainty of the flames. ' We must go to their help,' exclaimed the Professor, hurrying on his clothes, in which proceeding the boys imitated him. ' They'll be burned if they are not directed.' By the time they reached the burning building, the majority of the occupants had reached the ground some way, but the old, the sick, and the infirm had been left to become a prey to the flames. On learning this, Professor Orde, after an outburst of indignation at the heartless selfishness of the men, made haste to take measures for the rescue of the imperilled ones. It would, of course, be impracticable to get them down the notched tree-trunks, and to drop them from the edge of the platform, as the hard ground would be sure to cause injury. But among the articles flung hastily from the long-house were several large, thick mats, and in these Professor Orde saw a way of meeting the emergency. Bidding half-a-dozen of the strongest Dyaks take hold of the largest mat by the corners and at the side, he climbed up the tree-trunk, followed by Hugh and Ralph. He had no time to explain his ■I 8 II 11 212 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS plan. The only thing was to make it clear by practical illustration, and so, darting into one of the family rooms where an old woman crouched help- lessly, he caught her up in his strong arms, and carrying her to the edge of the platform, dropped her carefully into the centre of the mat. Close behind them came the boys, carrying between them an old man, who was protesting to the full extent of his feeble ability, for he did not understand their benevolent purpose ; but they had no difficulty in dropping him into the mat, where he landed in a completely bewildered condition. By this time the flames had taken complete possession of the centre and east end of the long- house, and although the Professor suspected, with good reason, that all the helpless ones had not got out of their reach, he realised that they must confine their life-saving operations to the end at which they were. A sick man, who had been deserted even by his own family, was the next to be rescued, and then a decrepit old crone that looked more like a witch than a human being. So absorbed were they in their work that none of them noticed how the flames had crept around under- neath the structure, until a sudden burst of them from beneath revealed the startling fact that the way back to the door had been cut off. ' Hullo ! ' cried Hugh, in a tone of mingled alarm I / THE ESCAPE FROM THE FLAMES 213 and indignation, as if he felt that the conflagration was playing rather a shabby trick upon them. ' We can't get back the way we came up. What will we do?' Professor Orde looked around with steady gaze. The fierce blaze hemmed them in on either hand and behind. Only in front was the way clear, and in a few minutes the devouring element would reach that also. ' Do ? * he answered, with a serene smile. ' Why, just what we did with the old fellows — drop into the mats.' ' To be sure,' laughed Hugh. * I was so flustered that I forgot for the moment.' 'We'd better be moving, then, hadn't we?' put in Ralph, who had been eyeing the nearing flames with growing concern. * I suppose so,' replied the Professor. ' Even if there should be any unfortunates left in these rooms we can do nothing for them now. You jump first, Ralph.' The Dyaks were holding the mat below, and shouting out what no doubt was entreaties to the trio to delay no longer, and so one after another Professor Orde and the boys dropped into the yield- ing mat and thus reached the ground, to be im- mediately surrounded by a crowd of effusively grateful Dyaks, who were in the mood to pay them almost divine honours for their heroic action. II 214 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS But Professor Orde cut short their demonstra- tions. 'There's nothing to make such a fuss about,' he said decisively. 'If you had done your duty there would have been no need for us interposing ; but let that go. Look after your people now. We're going to try and get some sleep.* A good result from their successful d^but as fire- men was that next morning, when Professor Orde was selecting his paddlers and gun-bearers, he had the pick of the male population, every able-bodied Dyak being eager to be engaged. Owing to the difficulty of navigation of the river, it was deemed best to take three sampans with two paddlers apiece, and Ralph proposed that they should each go in one of these accompanied by a gun-bearer, and when no other excitement offered they could amuse themselves racing. The Professor smiled at the racing idea, but made no objection to the other suggestion ; and so the three sampans thus occupied set out in quest of the mias, the great orang-outan, to obtain perfect specimens of which was Professor Orde's supreme desire. All day long they paddled up-stream, the river narrowing as they progressed, and its banks being completely hidden by walls of green leaves, which rose right from the surface of the water. Continuing after night had set in, for the Professor was anxious to reach the orang-outan's country, they THE ESCAPE FROM THE FLAMES 215 onstra- )ut,' he ' there but let i going IS fire- • Orde le had bodied J river, th two should bearer, • could t made e three I mias, cimens e river being which ofessor y, they were treated to a wonderful display of fireflies. They had been gliding along in the darkness be- tween the two black walls of forest, when, on round- ing a bend, they beheld a group of trees fairly ablaze with the little light-givers. They were seemingly fixed to the leaves, not flitting about, and were keeping up a rapid and incessant scintillation, as if actuated by some common purpose. ' Just look I ' cried Ralph ecstatically. * Isn't that beautiful ? It beats a display of fireworks.' ' Can they be holding a convention ? ' asked Hugh laughingly. ' They certainly seem to have got together for some purpose.' ' Perhaps they are just welcoming us to the country,' suggested the Professor. * We may accept their brilliant demonstrations as a good omen, at any rate, and flatter ourselves that it promises us all the orang-outans that we require for our purpose.' The next day they came to where the river had overflowed its banks, and for miles back the forest stood in water of an unknown depth. Quite early in the morning the Dyaks pointed out a dark object high up among the branches, which they declared was a mias' nest. The boys laughed at this when the Professor repeated it to them. * Why, what do they mean } ' Hugh exclaimed. ' The orang is not a bird, and surely he does not build nests.' * That's precisely what he does do,' responded m if 2l6 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS m ;■ the Professor, smiling back at them quizzically. 'They're not just as good as the birds build, but they're sure enough nests all the same, and are used for that purpose. We'll climb up and have a look at one some time.* After the sighting of the nest the sharpest look- out was kept, and every dark object or moving twig in the tree-tops keenly scrutinised as they paddled slowly and silently along. At length they caught a glimpse of a very green and fresh-looking nest, and a minute later the gun- bearer in Professor Orde's canoe stretched out his long, dark arm, and, pointing up, whispered excitedly : *Mias, Tuan! Mias! Mias ! ' At once the paddles were driven deep into the water, and the light sampans fairly flew towards the tree indicated. On reaching it and peering into its foliage the Professor could make out only a big, hairy arm clasping the trunk about fifty feet from the ground. ' Not much of a shot,' he said to himself; ' but I'll try it first, and it may give me a chance for a better one ; ' and so, aiming carefully, he sent a bullet into the exposed member. In response to this the creature gave an angry growl, and at once started to flee, exposing himself to full view in so doing. He was evidently one of the largest of his kind, and the Professor was determined to secure him at I I THE ESCAPE FROM THE FLAMES 217 \ any cost. The course of the mias' flight was avay from the river, and it was necessary to force the sampans through the screw-pines, which stood close together, forming a dense foliage. This demanded the utmost strength of those on board, and it was only by dint of frantic pulling and pushing aside of the branches, supplemented by vigorous slashing with the parongs, that a passage could be made. A rivalry as to which should make the most rapid progress at once sprang up between the three sampans. It was not just the kind of race for which Ralph had been hoping, but it was a contest, nevertheless, and he cheered on his crew with encouraging shouts. Meanwhile the mias had been swinging his way from tree to tree, and doing remarkably well considering his wounded arm. Professor Orde grew intensely excited. He urged his men to increased exertions, if that were pos- sible, and promised them extra pay if they brought him within range of the quarry again. But, despite the utmost they could do, the advance of the sampans grew slower, and finally came to a complete stop where the screw-pines gave place to the larger trees, among whose lofty branches the mias was apparently making good his escape. There was not a speck of dry land in sight. Nothing but the close-set tree-trunks rising out of ii I I li' / 218 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS the muddy water. How was the mias to be followed under such circumstances ? Professor Orde did not take long to decide. ' There's no help for it,' he exclaimed. * We'll have to wade ; ' and, dropping over the edge of the sampan, he disappeared in the mui^'y liquid. \ 7 llovved [id not We'll of the CHAPTER XXV HUNTING THE ORANG-OUTAN WITH consternation the boys saw their uncle vanish, and they strove to force their sampans towards the spot, but, finding that impossible, they were about to go into the water after him, when his head appeared above the surface, and he spluttered out : ' Phew ! It's deeper than I thought. I can't touch bottom. Don't you come in. There's no need of your getting wet too.' Reassured by this, Hugh and Ralph kept their places, and watched the Professor as, somewhat hampered by his rifle, he swam until he could get his feet on the ground. After wading up to his neck a little farther, the water grew shallower, and was only waist-deep. ' We can manage that all right,' said Ralph. ' Come along. We don't mind a wetting,' and overboard he went with Hugh at his heels. They made their way to where the Professor stood, gazing intently upward, and following his 219 r ♦:S. 220 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS look, they could just see a black object amidst the thick foliage. ' There he is ! ' cried Ralph. ' I see him ! Shall I fire.?' They had all brought their rifles, which, being breechloaders, were, of course, not seriously affected by the wet. 'No — don't,' answered Professor Orde. 'The next shot must finish him, and we can't take any chances.' The mias was evidently resting, and so hidden by the leaves that it was impossible to tell what part of him they could see. They must therefore wait until he should be more fully exposed. It was not easy to be patient in so uncomfort- able a position ; but there was no help for it, and they stood there in the muddy water waiting for the opportunity to give the coup de grace. At length the creature, who had no doubt been aware of their proximity all the time, began to move again, climbing along a straight horizontal branch by the aid of his hands alone after the most approved manner of a gymnast. The boys watched liim :idmiringly. They were both rather expert in gymnastic exercises, and the thought came to them how they might astonish their companions at home if they had only one-half the strength and agility of the monster monkey. Professor Orde now had the opportunity for for HUNTING THE ORANG-OUTAN 231 which he was waiting, and taking careful aim, he fired. The mias stopped short and let go with one hand, which dropped heavily at his side. For some minutes he hung there in full view, looking so huge and hairy oudined against the sky. Presently his hand slipped, his hold gave way entirely, and with outstretched limbs he came crashing heavily down through the branches, falling into the water quite close to the hunters with a tremendous splash. The shock seemed to revive him, and he strug- gled up, to turn savagely at bay, grasping the trunk of a small tree to hold himself erect. He presented an appalling picture of hideous ferocity as he thus faced them, snarling and gnash- ing his great white teeth. Involuntarily the boys backed away. They had no desire to come to closer quarters with so terrible a creature. But the Professor held his ground. He thought that it could be a question only of a minute or two more ere it would be all over. For once, however, he had counted without his host. There was more life left in the sorely wounded animal than he supposed, and while he stood there waiting for his death, the mias, putting all his strength into one final and supreme effort, sprang at him with outstretched arms and gaping mouth. h 222 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS Taken completely by surprise, the Professor threw up his arms to defend himself. He still held his rifle in them, and this was a most fortunate thing, for the mias seized it with his teeth instead of any part of its owner, and for a moment the two, man and giant monkey, wrestled together with the rifle between them. The boys pressed forward to render help, but there was nothing they could do except at the risk of wounding their uncle, and they were compelled to remain anxious spectators of the strange struggle. The tremendous strength of the maddened brute was beginning to tell, and in another moment he would have torn the rifle from his antagonist's grasp, and been free to bury his great teeth in his flesh, when the ground under the Professor gave way, and he sank beneath the water. The boys, at sight of this, cried out in agony ot concern. ' Oh ! he's got uncle down ! He'll kill him ! We must pull him off! ' The situation certainly looked serious enough. To be submerged in that thick muddy water was no light matter, but to have a huge orang-outan on top of you and doing his best to kill you was decidedly worse. Yet, as it chanced, the two perils counteracted each other, for no sooner did the mias feel the water closing over him than he loosened his grip upon the m ofessor 11 held fc thing, of any o, man le rifle p, but le risk ipellcd ug-gle. brute :nt he grasp, flesh, way. ny of We 3Ugh. was m on was each /ater I the ) 'llli; '.KOfNI) fMiKI; Mil ;i;mii-...k (■, \V1 W \ ' l;l \l. \ III Mil w \ 1 II;. \M' III - \M. if HUNTING THE ORANG-OUTAN 223 Professor, and splashed frantically in his efforts to get back to the tree, as he was in mortal terror of drowning. This gave the boys the opportunity for which they had been waiting. They could use their rifles now without fear of hurt to their uncle, and almost at the same moment they fired. Either shot would have been fatal, and with one last despairing groan the mias fell over dead, just as Professor Orde, having recovered his footing, was able to splutter out : ' Well done, boys. You've finished him ! ' Their quarry proved quite worth all the trouble he had cost. He was a splendid specimen of his kind, with a back as broad and chest as deep as a pugilist's, arms remarkably long and sinewy, huge hands and feet, but legs disproportionately short and thick. His body was big and heavy, his eyes wickedly small, and his teeth almost equal to a bear's in size. He was covered with long, coarse, brick-red hair except on his face, which was quite bare save for a thin growth on the jaws and chin. Professor Orde was jubilant over his success. ' This is certainly a fine beginning,' he said, smiling happily. ' I hope our good fortune will continue.' Proceeding up the river, they sighted a number of nests, none of which, however, were occupied at the time. They examined several of these odd 1 i ( 224 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS structures, and found them to consist of simply a lot of small green boughs and twigs piled loosely in the fork of a tree or the top of a sapling. They were usually about three feet in diameter, and looked for all the world like gigantic birds'-nests badly made. 'How do the orang-outans use the nest, uncle ? ' Ralph inquired. ' In the same way as the birds?' ' Oh no,' laughed the Professor, ' not quite. They are used merely as sleeping-places. When he feels tired and sleepy the orang-outan lies down on his back and sleeps most comfortably.' Once they surprised an orang in the act of taking a drink. He had climbed down within reach of the water, and hung at the foot of a stout sapling, dipping one hand into the water, then holding it over his mouth and sucking the water off as it dripped from the knuckles of his closed fingers. He was so busily engaged that the sampan had no difficulty in getting within range before being discovered, and then the Professor bagged him with a single shot through the heart. A few miles farther on, Hugh, whose sampan was in the lead at the time, spied a baby orang up in a tree-top hanging to the small limbs with outstretched arms and legs, looking for all the world like a big red spider. * Oh, look ! ' he cried excitedly, as he pointed a trembling finger at the small object. ' There's a baby mias. Let us try and catch it.' 11 ft ply a lot y in the ey were )ked for nade. uncle ? ' birds ? ' : quite. When 2S down r taking each of sapling, Idino- it ff as it fingers. )an had e being ed him pan was up in a tretched e a big Dinted a here's a HUNTING THE ORANG-OUTAN 225 The other sampans came up, and Professor Orde approving of the idea, they pushed in through the trees towards the little fellow. Just then the mother put in an appearance and climbed with all haste to her youngster, which at once clasped her around the body, hold i no on by grasping her long hair. The old one then started off at a rapid pace. But a well-aimed shot from the Professor's rifle stopped her course, and she came crashing down through the trees, falling with a big splash into the water, which was there about waist-deep. They immediately made a rush for the place, and Ralph succeeded in getting hold of the little chap as it splashed about frantically with no idea of swim- ming or keeping itself above water. But no sooner had he done so thai, le repented of his rashness, for the instant the creature got its breath it became a veritable little fiend. Although it could not have been more than eight months old and weighed less than a dozen pounds, it showed the temper of a tiger, and Ralph found himself hard put to it to keep his hands away from its sharp teeth. At first the Professor and Hugh were inclined to laugh at his struggles with the agile and furious infant, and to leave him to fight it out for himself, but presently it became plain that he was in con- siderable danger of getting some nasty bites, so they went to his assistance. 15 226 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS 3 I By their united efforts the little fury was at length pinioned securely, both arms and legs being tied, and then deposited in the bottom of the sampan to be taken to camp. ' It would not make a very nice pet for a lady,' Hugh remarked when the excitement was over. ' I'm afraid one would be a long time teaching this little imp good manners.' ' Yes, indeed,' added Ralph. ' If it's true that we've descended from such creatures, we've certainly improved a vast amount in the process,' On ' :: way to camp Ralph had good reason to be confirmed in this opinion, for although he flattered hl/iise^^ th.'*^ be had his ugly little captive so securely tied up that it could not possibly do any mischief, he was convinced to the contrary in an unpleasant manner by a sudden pain in the calf of his leg, and lo ! the diminutive rascal had squirmed near enough to fasten its teeth in the boy's plump flesh. The yell that Ralph let out quite startled the others, and they hurried their sampans to the side of his, inquiring with concern what was the matter. ' Matter ? ' cried Ralph angrily. ' Matter enough ! The little brute has nearly taken a piece out of my leg. I'm more than half inclined to kill it.' ' Oh no, don't do that,' said the Professor sooth- ingly ; ' I'd like to keep it a while, if we can. Just hand it over to me,' and so the fierce mannikin was transferred to his sampan, where it behaved itself HUNTING THE ORANG-OUTAN '>'!•* was at [S beinof sampan a lady,' LS over, ing this lie th;it ertainly )n to be Mattered jecurely hief, he pleasant eg, and enough led the he side latter, nough ! ; of my sooth- . Just :in was :l itself better, probably because by this time it was pretty well played out. Ere sunset they reached a Dyak village or ' long- house ' at the foot of Cunong Popook, where they were cordially welcomed by the people, and the whole establishment was placed at their command. Ft was a much smaller structure than the one whose burning they had witnessed, and very much cleaner, so that they were quite glad to accept the owner's hospitality, and put up there for the night. Their coming was evidently an event to the Dyaks, who showed a lively interest in them, and through the medium of their native servants, who acted as interpreters, asked them many questions about themselves, and their own country, and their object in visiting Borneo, all of which Professor Orde and the boys endeavoured to answer to their satisfaction, while at the same time asking a good many questions in return. Taking possession of one corner of the long-house the visitors rigged up their mosquito-curtains to keep out the pests that would otherwise have been very troublesome, and, feeling as thoroughly secure as if in a city hotel, lay down to sleep upon the clean soft mats their host had provided. : i' I w ^■ii CHAPTER XXVI TO THE HILL-COUNTRY THE region round about being- a particularly rich one from the point of view of the collector of specimens, Professor Orde decided to make a somewhat lengthened stay at the long-house, where they found things so much to their comfort, and the boys hailed this decision with warm approval. The more they saw of these Dyaks the better they liked them, and there was always plenty of occupation for the long, bright days. The second day after their arrival they were delighted by some hunters bringing in a baby orang, only a few months old, of a very different disposition from the one they had captured themselves, and which soon after died upon their hands. The new arrival was as sweet-tempered as a kitten, and at once became a great pet. Although ridiculously ugly, if judged by any standard of human beauty, he was really as handsome and wholesome a little orang as ever climbed a tree. He had a 228 TO THE HILL-COUNTRY 229 cularly of the Orde at the luch to )n with er they ipation '■ were orani;', tositlon is, and 1 as a thou oh human ilesome had a bald and shiny head and a very much wrinkled countenance, and his habitual expression was one of such profound gravity and wisdom that one could not look upon him without smilin^^, and so the boys promptly christened him the ' Senator.' He had remarkable eyes, so very large, bright, and full of intelligence, and Ralph insisted that he could smile when especially pleased, but Professor Orde would not confirm this observation. A more entertaining pet could not have been desired, and the boys spent many hours in his society, studying his way, and his manners, and teaching him tricks that made him all the more amusing. lie would climb all over them when they were sitdng at dinner or reading in their hammocks, and would eat bananas by the half-dozen at a time. After a time he was taught to eat boiled rice from a spoon in a way that was thoroughly characteristic. He would sit in Hugh's or Ralph's lap at dinner-time, and watch with interest every time they put some- thing in their mouths. As they wanted him to learn to cat rice, it occurred to them to pass each spoonful <.)f rice close to his mouth on its way t(^ theirs, and the cute little chap began to open his mouth every time he saw the spoon coming, only to have it go past him. Soon from being merely interested he became anxious and eager, and tried to catch the passing spoon and thrust it into his own mouth. '4^ m 23° THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS ^■t ii i! ' Ah, ha, little chappie ! You're waking up, are you ? ' laughed Hugh, who had been most patient in teaching him. ' Well, then, here you are. Try a spoonful,' and he put the spoon to the orang's mouth. In an instant it was taken in and emptied, and from the way the Senator smacked his lips and held on to Hugh's hand, it was evident that he wanted more. After that he was always ready for his rice, and in course of time came to appreciate quite an extended bill of fare, including all kinds of cooked meat, vegetables, bread, canned fruits, tea, coffee, milk, and chocolate, just as if he were an ordinary human being. He seemed thoroughly to understand play, and one of his favourite tricks was suddenly to seize the hand of the person playing with him, and make a feint of giving it a wicked bite, but he never caused the least pain. Another pastime of his was making the most comically wry faces, which he would do with the keenest enjoyment of his own performance. Altogether the Senator was a most welcome addition to the party, and the boys were quite determined to take him back home with them if it could in any way be managed. Several weeks passed by very pleasandy. Pro- fessor Orde meeting with satisfying success in the collecting of specimens, and the boys finding ample occupation either in assisting him, or in hunting "m r TO THE HILL-COUNTRY 831 up, are ticnt in Try a nouth. ^cl, and id held wanted s rice, lite an cooked coffee, •dinary y, and ize the lake a caused naking uld do nance. ^Iconie quite liem if , Pro- in the ample unting on their own account, paddling the light sampans about the river, or adding to the Senator's list of accomplishments. But, of course, their stay could not be indefinitely prolonged, and one evening at dinner the Professor announced their next move. ' I think we must pull up stakes soon, boys,' he said. 'We've been here about long enough, and I've collected nearly everything in the district that's worth attention.' * Where do you intend going, uncle ? ' asked Ralph with an expression of keen interest, for he was fond of change, and was glad to hear that one was in prospect. 'Well, I'll tell you,' replied the Professor. 'I'm told by the natives that up at the head-waters of this river there's a curious kind of bear to be found, of which I am anxious to secure a couple of good speci- mens. It will not be easy work getting there, and we'll probably have to put up with a good deal of hardship compared with our present comfortable quarters, but I do not want to leave Borneo without at least making the attempt to get some of those bears for my collection.' He spoke in rather an apologetic tone, as if his scientific ardour might be carryinf( bim too far ; but with the utmost promptness the boys responded : ' Let us go by all means. We can stand it if you can.' 232 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS till A couple of days later, having carefully packed up all their trophies and placed them in charge of their friendly hosts, they set forth up-river, little imagining what thrilling experiences awaited them in the unknown wilds towards which they were journeying. The Senator, of course, accompanied them. ''?. had now become quite as attached to them as a uog, and divided his love between Hugh and Ralph with fine impartiality. The Professor not paying him the same attention that they did, he was not on such intimate terms with him. Being entirely free, he shifted from one sam )an to the other as his fancy pleased, and was ncvt • in the way, but always so engaging and companior ible that Ralph exclaimed : ' I wish the Senator was twins, like we e. Wouldn't it be fun to have two such joll' .e fellows, and then we could see which was t-^e best of us at training them.' * Perhaps we may pick up another in the course of our trip,' said the Professor. ' But it's not likely. The Senator has a particularly sweet temper, and I'm afraid that's a pretty rare virtue among his kind.' As they advanced towards its head-waters the river narrowed to a stream that presently ceased to be navigable, even for their shallow sampans, and they were compelled to leave these in the care of T TO THE HILL-COUNTRY ^M e. best a Dyak village, whose inhabitants seemed to be thoroughly trustworthy, and proceed on foot. The people of this settlement tried to dissuade them from going any farther. They urged that the travelling would be very difficult and dangerous, as the country Weas so mountainous and the forest so dense ; that there were fierce wild animals to attack them ; and finally, when these arguments proved of no avail, they let fall sundry dark hints about the bad character of the people into whos(< country the hunters were going. They were robbers, and head-hunters, and not to be trusted at all. But the Professor made light of their warnings. ' I can see through their little game,' he said, with a confident smile. ' They don't want us to go any farther, so that we may stay with them for a while. It's all very kind of them, but we'll keep to our programme notwithstanding.' So, instead of staying at the village, the Professor hired half-a-dozen of the most active men to join his party as gun- bearers and guides, and continued his journey. The truth of the natives' account of the character of the country was soon confirmed. They had not long left the village ere the going became decidedly difficult, and the boys found it a by no means pleasant change from the easy travelling by sampan. One range of hills succeeded another, each one steeper than its predecessor, and they were all RPBWI9B 234 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS ! clothed with dense forest, through which, in many places, a way had to be slashed by the parongs of the Dyaks, the creepers and climbing vines of various kinds forming otherwise impenetrable curtains that hung across their path. It was slow, hot, wearisome work, and when now and then they did reach a cleared space on the back- bone of a range of hills, they were glad to rest a good while and consider the situation. Before they had got very far both Hugh and Ralph became utterly weary of this style of travelling, but they would not have confessed it even to one another on any account. They were as proud as they were plucky, and so long as their uncle said nothing, but kept on as cheerfully as though it were child's play, no word would fall from their lips sug- gesting that they had had enough of it, and wanted to turn back. The monotony of their toil was relieved by their securing many specimens of strange creatures which the Professor was glad to add to his collection. One day they shot a sambur buck that did not compare in size and appearance with the noble steigs of the Animallai's, and every day they got the Java deer, the smallest of all their kind, being only about nine inches high and without horns, yet very graceful, trim, and pretty. They also bagged a number of lemurs, both the beautiful Hying variety and the slow- paced one, besides numerous civet-cats, the strange "^qw TO THE HILL-COUNTRY -35 ott(jr-cat peculiar to Borneo, several wild hogs, the flesh of which the Dyaks keenly enjoyed, and scores of various species of monkeys, including the odd pig-tailed macacques, the long-limbed gibbons, and the hideous proboscis monkeys which are found only in Borneo. The Senator got on famously. Sometimes he would make his way through the trees, always keeping well in sight, and sometimes along the ground, when they were going slowly ; but what he liked best of all was to be carried, and as he did not weigh over a score of pounds, and made himself as light as possible when on anybody's back, he usually had no difficulty in finding a willing porter. It was not until they had been many days en route ^ and the patience^ of the boys had almost reached its limit, that, to their huge relief, the Professor announced they had reached the end of their journey. ' I think we've come far enouo;h now, and had our fill of this hard travelling,' he said. ' We'll make camp here, and stay for a week if necessary, until we have secured the specimens we want.' The camping-place chosen was a very attractive one, being a sort of dell in the mountain-side, free from trees, and having a carpet of thick, soft turf that would make it easy to arrange good sleeping- places. The parongs of the native attendants were soon at work upon the bamboo thickets, and in the course ¥ 236 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS W. I »i of a couple of hours they had a snug little hut put together that would comfortably shelter the three hunters, while they themselves would be content to sleep in the open. * Now then for Ursus Malayamis ! ' said Professor Orde when they had got everything settled. ' He's only a little fellow compared with some of the bears we've seen, and one of our own grizzlies would make a dozen of him. But he's necessarv to complete our collection, and we shall try as hare to get him as if he were ten times as big as he is.' Taking with them food for the day, they set off early the following morning, one Dyak acting as u^uide and tracker, and three others as ffun-bearcrs. They soon sighted a troop of gibbons, which at once began to call them bad names for intruding on their domain. • Did you ever hear such impudence ? ' exclaimed Ralph as the monkeys' excited chattering waxed louder. ' Let us give them a volley.' But the moment he had spoken the long-limbed creatures, as if divining his meaning, started away at a great pace, and put themselves out of danger in no time. 'They certainly are clever,' mused Hugh, as if speaking to himself. ' I wonder if it can be true that we are descended from their kind.' But he pursued his meditations no further that time, for, as they reached the foot of a steep hill, a TO THE HILL-COUNTRY 237 sudden rustling was heard, and the movement of some wild animals in the bushes could be discerned. An instant later a dark object came shuffling towards them, growling fiercely as it advanced, and the Dyaks broke into excited cries of ' Hruoni^^ Tuan ! Bruonir ! ' It was indeed a bear, and the brave little fellow was actually char[;ino down upon them ! f i 'I CIIAPTRR XXVI I I 1 CAPTURED BY KYANS TIIK \)0.:\v had covered about half the space intervening- between it and them, when out of the thicket appeared another somewhat smaller in size, and the two came on together, with manifestly hostile intent. They were such litde fellows both of them that Professor Orde thought he would leave the dealincj with them to his nephews, and so he called out : ' Now, boys, there's your chance ; one apiece. I'll just stand by and superintend.' Thoroughly pleased at this arrangement, Hugh and Ralph braced themselves for the issue. They wanted to make one shot do if possible for each bear, and so they waited until the animals were within ten yards of them, and then Hugh said : 'You take the right one, and Pll take the left. Now, fire.' The report of the two rifles was as one, and the effect was to cause both bears to stop suddenly, and rise upon their hind legs, snarling savagely. They had felt the sting of th(! bullets, and would have 238 CAPTURED BY KYANS 239 responded with blows from their paws if they could have ,2^ot within reach of their assailants. The next instant they dropped on all-fours, and continued the charge with increased speed. Chagrined at the failure of their shots to stop them, the boys, having no time to put in fresh cartridges, prepared to club their rilles, while the Professor got his rifle ready to lin;. When witiiin a couple of yards of the boys the bears stopped and again rose on their haunches. • Let us give it to them now,' cried Ralph, swinq-- ing his rifle by the muzzle ; and Hugh, at once catching his idea, they sprang forward and dealt the bears such tremendous blows upon the head that they both went down like nine-pins. •Hurrah!' cried Ralph exultantly. 'They're done for now.' But he had shouted too soon. There was fight left in the creatures yet, as he the next moment learned, for the one he had bowled over suddenly got up again and made a swipe at him with one of its fore-paws that caught him near the knees, and knocked his feet from under him, whereupon the other bear, seeing him down, made haste to attack him in its turn, de- spite Hugh's repeated blows with the butt of his rifle. The situation was now looking rather serious, and Professor Orde thought it time for him to interfere, so he drew his hunting-knife a:.d threw himself into the fray. i \ •ili ^1' I 140 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS t^ With one quick, clever thrust he sent the keen weapon into the heart of one bear, and was about to dispose of the other in the same way when it and Ralph became so mixed up in their struggle with each other that he did not dare use the knife lest he should stab the boy. Ralph had got the bear by the throat with both hands, and was doing his utmost to throttle him, while the bear was endeavouring to get the boy's head into its mouth, and they were making a pretty fight of it as they rolled over and over on the ground. Hugh danced about them in a state of intense concern, and, plunging his hands into the thick fur of the animal, strove to drag it off his brother, but without avail. Presently the work of Ralph's strong fingers began to tell. The bear was losing strength through losing breath, and after another brief struggle it became quite limp in his grasp. He had succeeded in throtding it, and thus won the victory with his bare hands, to the surprise of the Professor, the relief of Hugh, and the great admiration of the intensely interested Dyaks. * Bravo, Ralph ! ' cried the Professor, after a quick examination had satisfied him that his nephew had suffered no injury save some slight scratches. ' We hail you as the modern Hercules, for have you not slain a bear with your own hands ? ' CAPTURED BY KYANS 241 he keen about to n it and yle with i lest he ith both tic him, le boy's a pretty on the intense hick fur :her, but rs began jh losing became eded in his bare relief of ntensely • a quick hew had s. 'We you not Ralph laughed and blushed at the words. ' It's not so very much of a bear after all,' he said, giving the body a gentle kick. ' He seemed big enough when he knocked me over, but he's really no bigger than a good big dog, is he ? ' In truth the size of the bear did seem somewhat disappointing, but Professor Orde explained that the largest of this species would not exceed a hundred pounds in weight, and that as these two would weigh about eighty pounds each they had every reason to be satisfied with the day's work. The Dyaks showed unusual delight at the bagging of the bears, the reason being that the flesh was highly esteemed by them, not so much because of its taste, which, indeed, was not especially fine, but because they believed that by eating it they added to their own store of strength and courage, these qualities passing from the former possessor into them. Tired but triumphant, they returned to their camp before sunset, and after supper lay down to rest with no more suspicion of danger than if they were at home. Yet soon after nightfall a number of dark forms moved through the forest towards the camp, and, having taken their position so that they might see everything without being seen, waited in ambush until sleep should have settled upon the whole party. The Senator was strangely restless that night. Instead of being glad to curl up beside one of the 16 I; 242 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS boys, as was his wont, he seemed possessed with a spirit, and they could not understand what was the matter with him. He went from one to the other in a puzzhng way, and seemed so anxious to make them understand something that the Professor exclaimed impatiently : ' What on earth can be wrong with the little chap? If he could only talk! I'm sure he's got something to tell us.' But they were too tired to try and find out what was in the orang's mind, and after they had all turned in he quieted down, although the gleam of his bright eyes showed that he was not sleeping like the others. The camp had been at rest for an hour when the dark forms, which had waited so silently in the darkness, began to move noiselessly towards it. They numbered nearly two score in all — tall athletic figures, bearing long shields and spears. They were, in fact, a band of Kyans, the most barbarous and cruel of all the tribes of Borneo, out upon a head-hunting foray, in the course of which they had by mere chance come upon the little expedition of the Professor's. Making no more sound than if they were shadows instead of substantial beings, the Kyans had completely surrounded the camp and its unconscious occupants, when suddenly the Senator broke out into a succession of piercing shrieks that \'t r CAPTURED BY KYANS 243 with a as the g way, :rstancl iently : : little 2's got t what lad all ^ani of ig like en the in the rds it. 11— tall spears, i most eo, out which i little were Kyans nd its Jenator ks that startled all the sleepers into wakefulness. The intelligent little creature had discerned the proximity of the enemy, and forthwith given the alarm. The Professor and the boys sprang to their feet, and reached for their rifles, hut before they could make another move they were seized by strong arms and flung to the ground, while the whole place seemed full of savages struggling with their Dyak followers. The struggle was of short duration. The assailants had the advantage in every way, and in but a few minutes Professor Orde and the whole party were securely bound and helpless prisoners at the mercy of their captors. After their first indignant protest against this treatment, and the quick realisation of its utter futility, they had made no outcry. ' We may as well save our breath, for the present at all events,' said the Professor grimly. 'Nothing we can say will do us any good.' Through the remaining hours of the night they kept silence for the most part, and when daylight returned they examined their captors with anxious interest. Their appearance was hardly reassuring, for, as compared with the Dyaks and Malays they had so far seen in Borneo, they were certainly unmitigated savages. Their stalwart bodies were tattooed in an elaborate fashion. They wore a sort of armour 244 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS I H (t made from padded cloth of the skins of bears and leopards, which protected their chests and backs, and they were armed with long keen spears and cruel cutting and stabbing knives, while each man had a big shield of hard wood, ornamented with tufts of hair, dyed in different colours, which had undoubtedly been taken from the heads of conquered foes. The Dyaks were evidently in mortal terror. Their heads were doomed, and they huddled together like sheep waiting for the shambles. So abject was their despair that even in the midst of his own keen anxiety it touched Hugh's heart, and he said pityingly: * The poor fellows ! They seem to have no hope ; but surely these savages won't kill them in cold blood.' ' I'm afraid it's only too likely,' replied the Pro- fessor ; ' and our only chance may be to persuade them to keep us for ransom. If we could manage to get word to Sarawak we could make it much better worth their while to take good care of us than merely to add our heads to their collection of such trophies.* Having given their prisoners some food and loosed their bonds so that they could move about a little — for, as they outnumbered them two to one and had deprived them of all their weapons, they were satisfied as to their security — the Kyans pro- ceeded to hold a council over their prizes. They debated long and earnestly, while Professor Orde and the boys watched them intently, striving .J 'I CAPTURED BY KYANS 245 to catch from their tones and gestures some indica- tion of the course of the discussion ; but they could make out nothing and in acute anxiety awaited the issue. When the council was ended, Professor Orde, having discovered that one of the Dyaks had sufficient knowledge of the Kyan dialect to enable him to act as interpreter, made signs to the chief of the party that he wished to speak with him. The Kyan, a middle-aged man of stalwart, sinewy frame and fierce countenance, at first refused to take any notice of him, but after a little, as the Professor persisted, he approached them in a sternly dignified manner. With the aid of the Dyak the Professor then made haste to offer his proposition, which was to the effect that, while no doubt the heads of the party would make a desirable addition to the Kyans' col- lection, still, there was a way in which their capture could be turned to greater profit than by decapitat- ing them, for if they would only keep them all alive, and take them down to a point whence word could be dispatched to Sarawak, he could promise that a reasonable ransom could be obtained for them. The chief listened at first in an indifferent manner, but presently showed more interest, and when the Professor had finished he called his followers together for another council, upon the outcome of which the prisoners realised that their lives depended. ■?» n 1 i - CHAPTER XXVIII RESCUED AND HOME AGAIN IT was evident that there were two parties in the council, and that they were about equally divided. ' I wish I could make out which side the chief is taking,' said the Professor, ' for he ought to carry the point, but there's no telling from the look of things.' For a full hour the discussion continued, while those whose fate was in the balance studied every word and gesture of the speakers with palpitating- hearts. At length a conclusion was reached, and the chief came to Professor Ordeto announce it. It was that the heads of all the Dyaks should be taken, but that the white men should be spared and held for ransom. But the Professor at once indignantly protested. He was responsible for bringing the Dyal s iii. , danger, and revolted from the though' alowing them to suffer for it while he and the I . s escaped. He accordingly pleaded in the strongest ter us for 246 k RESCUED AND HOME AGAIN 247 the inclusion of the Dyaks in the ransom, offering to pay as much for them as for himself and his nephews. Then ensued another council, and another period of harrowing suspense, at the end of which the grim chieftain, with a perceptibly more amiable expression, made the welcome announcement that no heads would be taken, but that all the captives would be allowed to be ransomed. * Thank God ! ' exclaimed Professor Orde ferv- ently on understanding this. ' We may all get out of it with whole skins, and without losing our heads after all,' and the boys found it hard to keep back the tears, so great was the relief after the tension of nerves they had been enduring. Whatever other part of their experience during their year of travel and adventure the three might forget, the time they spent in the power of the Kyans would ever remain clearly imprinted on their memory. The situation wascertainly a strange one. Having deprived them of everything except the clothes they wore, their captors had no fear of their attempting to escape, because, of course, for them to go into the pathless forest with empty hands inevitably meant death from starvation, even though they should not be attacked by wild beasts. They were therefore permitted to go without bonds of any kind, and to move about freely, although they knew well enough they were never suffered to get out of range of keen eyes that followed every movement. The Dyaks, i ;i, I ; i :ii i ^ iiii 248 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS however, were not treated in the same manner. They might attempt to escape, and accordingly their hands were tied and their legs shackled, so that they could do nothing in that way. Day after day the march towards the sea continued at a pace that tested the strength and endurance of the boys rather severely, but they maintained a cheerful spirit through it all. ' Every day brings us nearer release,* said Hugh philosophically one evening when, footsore and weary after a particularly hard tramp, they were resting together. * I suppose there's no doubt about your being able to arrange for our ransom, is there, uncle ? ' he added, with a hint of anxiety in his tone. ' Nothing human is altogether certain,' responded the Professor, • but so far as it is possible to foresee events there should be no difficulty, provided I can get into communication with the Rajah of Sarawak. It all depends upon that, of course.' * Well, we'll just assume there'll be no hitch in that part of the business, or in any other,' chimed in Ralph cheerfully. ' Our good luck has lasted us all right up to this scrape, and we can hope it's not going to go back on us now.' As they got farther down towards the coast the Kyans took greater precautions, and kept their captives within closer bounds, which was rather irksome, but had, of course, to be submitted to without protest. ih ' ?' I RESCUED AND HOME AGAIN :49 One night a tremendous tropical storm fell upon them, and, unprotected as they were by any sort of tent or hut, for the Kyans took no trouble about such things, they suffered extreme discomfort, in addition to being in no small peril from the lightning, which several times struck trees in their vicinity. But when morning dawned and revealed the astonishing fact that the Dyaks, taking advantage of the confusion created by the elemental strife, had in some manner managed to get free from their bonds and effect their escape, not a single one of them being left, the anger and chagrin of the Kyans knew no bounds. So furious were they that it seemed as if they might vent their rage upon their white captives, and had it not been for the restraining influence of the shrewd chief such a catastrophe might, indeed, have taken place. But after a heated and prolonged wrangle his counsel prevailed, and with glum countenances they resumed their march, evidently deeming it unwise to attempt to follow the fugitives in a country with which they were by no means familiar. But henceforth they redoubled their precautions, and advanced more slowly, sending scouts on ahead when in motion, and keeping sentries on guard all night. They evidently considered that they were on a perilous mission themselves. The strain of anxiety told heavily upon the boys, 250 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS li)'' as their haggard countenances showed. Their captors were not at all congenial company, being in this respect a decided contrast to the Dyaks, to whom they had become quite attached ; they were such bright, frank, genial fellows. But these Kyans seemed in a perpetual state of sulks. They rarely smiled, and they never laughed. The old chief was the only one that ever deigned to hold any converse with the captives, and after the flight of the Dyaks he could do this no longer, being without an interpreter. ' Dear heaven, but I wish it was all over ! ' sighed Ralph, as at the close of a long, wearisome day's march they threw themselves down to rest. ' I feel as if I couldn't stand much more of it. Don't you, Hugh?' ' I am pretty well played out,' answered Hugh. • Yet what else is there to be done ? We're at their mercy, and if they take it into their heads to put an end to us, there's nothing to prevent them.' * Oh, they're too sensible to do anything like that,' said the Professor cheerfully. ' It will pay them too well to take good care of us. Keep up your hearts, my lads. We'll come out of this all right, never fear.' • Do you think there's any chance of the Dyaks carrying word of our capture to the authorities and getting help for us .^ ' asked Hugh, who was one to think of every possible expedient. RESCUED AND HOME AGAIN ^51 ' It's by no means impossible,' responded Professor Orde. ' I wish I could have had a word with them before they bolted. I would have promised them a thumping reward if they did get word, and so lead to our rescue.' ' Let us hope they will do something of the kind,' exclaimed Ralph passionately ; ' and may we never get into such a fix again ! ' ' Amen,' added Hugh fervently; and they said no more on the subject for the present. When they had come to within about fifty miles of the coast, so far as the Professor could judge, the Kyans halted for several days, while they sent out scouts in different directions and made every pre- paration for a stout defence in event of themselves being attacked. As the crisis in their fate drew near the anxiety of the three captives intensified. There were so many contingencies upon which their rescue depended, and so many possibilities of failure, they could hardly eat or sleep as they should have done. The situation was, indeed, well-nigh intolerable. Durin all this time the Senator had been the boys' constant companion. By some subtle instinct he had conceived an intense aversion to the Kyans, and kept out of their reach as much as possible. On their part they look little notice of him, although at first they were for hilling him off-hand, but relented when Hugh and Ralph, divining their intent, pleaded 252 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS (i fii i I I I SO hard for their pet to be spared that the savages somewhat ungraciously consented. At night the Senator cuddled close to one or other of his young masters, where he usually kept as still as a mouse until day-break. It was therefore a sign not to be ignored when, the fourth night after the party had halted, Hugh, beside whom the orang was sleeping, felt the little fellow stirring, and showing unusual restlessness. Wondering what it meant, Hugh raised himself on his elbow and looked about him, but could neither hear nor see anything, until there was a sound like the moving of a snake in the grass, and feeling apprehensive, he was about to spring to his feet with a shout of warning when a firm hand was laid upon his ami, and a familiar voice whispered : * Keep still, Tuan. I have good news. The Rajah is coming to your help. We brought him word about you.' Starded as he was by the unexpected visitor, Hugh did not lose his self-control, but whispered back : ' All right, Dobah. How good you are to come and tell us ! ' As he spoke one of the Kyans lying near him grunted as though he were waking up, and the dark form slipped away no less silently than it had glided to Hugh's side. With nerves thrilling at what he had heard, Hugh RESCUED AND HOME AGAIN «53 hugged the Senator in his arms, while he murmured in his hairy ear : * They're coming to rescue us, Senator. They'll soon be here. Aren't you glad ? * And the clever little creature really seemed to understand something of his meaning. The bearer of the good news was one of the Dyaks, named Dobah, who, having been for some years in the service of the Rajah, had learned to speak English well, and, being a bright, lively sort of fellow, the boys had been very fond of him, and shown him much kindness. This had so won his heart that, as soon as he found himself at liberty again, he had made haste to the coast, and there, by a happy chance, found the Rajah's steamer, which had come to bring the travellers back to Sarawak, the Rajah himself being on board. When his excellency heard what had happened he at once made arrangements for a rescue party and was on his way with all possible speed. At great risk to himself the faithful Dobah had hurried on ahead to inform the captives, and, having accomplished this service, made his way back to the Rajah's party. Hugh burned with impatience to communicate the joyful announcement to the others ; but they were both sound asleep, and he could not awaken them without attracting the attention of the Kyans and exciting their suspicions, so that he was fain to 1 '■^i It i ^54 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS possess his soul in patience until daybreak, when he could speak to them in the ordinary way. Ralph could not control an exclamation of delight when he heard the wod news, hut the Professor showed no more emotion than if 1 lu^h had been telling him the time of day. Not having any hint as to how the Rajah intended to effect their release! they could only exercise their minds in surmising, and they all cherished the hope that there would not be a serious encounter, and, if possible, no loss of life. After their morning meal the Kyans held a council, the purport of which the Professor would have given much to understand, but, of course, he was completely in the dark until the decision was made clear by their action. Then it appeared that they were to break up camp and proceed farther coastwards, keeping close order, as though they feared they might be attacked. Marching slowly and with manifest caution they presently came to a sort of defile, in passing through which it was necessary they should string out, and when they had got into it the thought flashed into Professor Orde's mind : ' What a perfect place for an ambuscade ! If the Rajah's force were only here now they could have these rascals at their mercy.' Hardly had the idea occurred to him when the quiet of the place was suddenly shattered by a RESCUED AND HOME AGAIN 255 volley from a full score of rifles, whose bullets whistled past the heads of the party in perilous proximity. In an instant all was confusion among the Kyans. Some threw themselves upon the ground in fear of another volley. Others darted to right and left that they might find shelter behind rocks or tree-trunks, while a few stood up bravely, shaking their spears and shouting defiance. Being thus left to themselves the Professor and the boys were for a moment at a loss just what to do, but instinctively they threw themselves upon their faces, so that if there were any more bullets flying they might be out of their way. An instant later there appeared on either side of the ravine a line of the Rajah's soldiers, with rifles in hand ready to pour in another volley. It was not needed, however. The Kyans at sight of them were thrown into utter panic, and either fled precipitately or gave themselves up without any attempt at defence, and the rescue of their captives was thus effected without the shedding of a single drop of blood. How the travellers returned to Sarawak in triumph, and after a brief stay there set out by steamer upon their return journey ; how they voyaged through the China and Japan seas, touch- ing at Singapore, Hong-Kong, Shanghai, Yokohama, and thence striking out across the great Pacific 256 THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS Ocean to San Francisco ; how glad they were to get back to their own country again, and how hearty was their reception there ; what a sensation the Professor's splendid collection created; and how delighted the University authorities were with his yvork — all this may be readily understood. Their mission had been a great success, and the memory of it filled many a happy hour in their after-life. THE END Richard Cloy b> Sons, Limited, London and Bunsny. jre to earty 1 the how h his Their mory -life.