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Three or four times the reckless trackers returned, most truthfully saying that the beast was mangy, undersized a tigress worn with nursing, or a broken-toothed old male and Bukta would curb young Chinn's impatience.
Must be a queer thing to see your grandfather treated as a god." "What makes you think there's any truth in the tale?" said Chinn. "Because all our men deny it. They say they've never heard of Chinn's tiger. Now that's a manifest lie, because every Bhil has." "There's only one thing you've overlooked," said the Colonel, thoughtfully.
Secondly, their subalterns were not mounted on parade, as is the general rule, but walked at the head of their men. A man who can hold his own with the Wuddars at their quickstep must be sound in wind and limb. Fourthly-up to one-hundredthly they were the Wuddars Chinn's Irregular Bhil Levies of the old days, but now, henceforward and for ever, the Wuddars.
It was a parching day, and the boy very naturally stripped and went in for a bathe, leaving Bukta by the clothes. A white skin shows far against brown jungle, and what Bukta beheld on Chinn's back and right shoulder dragged him forward step by step with staring eyeballs. "I'd forgotten it isn't decent to strip before a man of his position," said Chinn, flouncing in the water.
Let Jan Chinn comfort his own, for vain was the help of mortal man. Bukta toned down these beseechings to a simple request for Chinn's presence.
They submitted, but would not give up the written protection, fearing the jail. On their way back they met Mr. D. Fawne, who had heard about the robberies, and was not pleased. "Certainly," said the eldest of the gang, when the second interview was at an end, "certainly Jan Chinn's protection has saved us our liberty, but it is as though there were many beatings in one small piece of paper.
Bukta had continued to develop his peculiar theory among his intimates, and it was accepted as a matter of faith in the lines, since every word and gesture on young Chinn's part so confirmed it. The old man arranged early that his darling should wipe out the reproach of not having shot a tiger; but he was not content to take the first or any beast that happened to arrive.
Suddenly the sides of the ravine were crowned with the heads of Bukta's people a force that could have blown the ribs out of the beast had Chinn's shot failed; but their guns were hidden, and they appeared as interested beaters, some five or six waiting the word to skin. Bukta watched the life fade from the wild eyes, lifted one hand, and turned on his heel.
Secondly, their subalterns were not mounted on parade, as is the general rule, but walked at the head of their men. A man who can hold his own with the Wuddars at their quickstep must be sound in wind and limb. Fourthly-up to one-hundredthly they were the Wuddars -Chinn's Irregular Bhil Levies of the old days, but now, henceforward and for ever, the Wuddars.
Then there rose up, with a rattle, as straight as a Bhil arrow, a little white-haired wizened ape of a man, with medals and orders on his tunic, stammering, saluting, and trembling. Behind him a young and wiry Bhil, in uniform, was taking the trees out of Chinn's mess-boots. Chinn's eyes were full of tears. The old man held out his keys. "Foreigners are bad people. He will never come back again.