United States or Mali ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"So I chanced a final throw and came out here; I thought at the worst she could only send me away again, and I should be no more badly off than I was before. Well, I got here, and the first thing. I heard was that Nick was giving a picnic at Khantali, and that there was a man-eater there. My informant was a native groom at the inn.
"The Rajah was talking about a man-eating tiger at Khantali only the other day." "Oh, yes, there is one too. But I'm afraid we are not very likely to come across him." "Afraid! Do you want to then?" Noel's eyes shone with enthusiasm. "I'm just aching to get a shot at one of these creatures. I've never so much as seen one in the wild yet.
"Nick, you silly old boy! Well, tell me what to do!" "Quite sure you don't like him?" questioned Nick. "No. I do like him." Olga's smile deepened. "But I think it was outrageous of him to send me this thing. And I shall have to tell him so." "I should," said Nick. "You will have ample opportunities when we get to Khantali. Take the thing with you and give it back to him there.
"It's the fashion for absentees to be homesick all the world over at Christmas-time. However, we are not bound to follow the fashion. How are we going to celebrate the occasion? Have you any ideas to put forward?" "None, Nick." He nodded. "That makes it all the easier for me. Shall we give a picnic at Khantali you and I? It won't be much fag for you if you drive over with Daisy Musgrave.
They made a cheery crowd as they assembled in the hot sunshine before Nick's bungalow a little later and discussed their final arrangements for the picnic at Khantali. The Bradlaws had a waggonette, and Daisy and Peggy were to drive with them. Noel had a dog-cart in which he boldly announced that Olga must accompany him.
His thoughts flashed to the tiger he had slain the day before at Khantali. Could this be another prowling in search of food? He scarcely thought so, yet the possibility gave him a sensation of bristling down the spine. He remained motionless in his chair, however, alert, listening. Softly the intruder drew near. He heard the tamarisk bushes part and close again. But he heard no sound of feet.
Nick, finding himself outnumbered, submitted with no visible discomfiture, and the procession, being completed by about a dozen equestrians, finally started with much laughter and badinage upon the long, rough journey through the jungle to Khantali.
She wished he would not take the trouble to be gracious to her, but he was always gracious to European ladies and there was no escape. The British polish over the Oriental suavity seemed to her a decidedly incongruous mixture. She infinitely preferred the purely Oriental. "My shikari has told me of a man-eater at Khantali," he said presently. "You have not seen a tiger-hunt yet?
"She has just got over a severe illness, and may be nervous." "Great Scotland! This isn't the place for anyone with nerves!" ejaculated Noel. "I heard this morning that there's a most ferocious man-eater in the Khantali district. I'm longing to have a shot at him, but they say he's as cunning as Beelzebub, and never shows unless he has some game on.
Noel can take most of the provisions in his dog-cart. He's a useful youngster. How does that strike you? There is a ruined temple or a mosque at Khantali, I believe, and you like that sort of thing." He paused. She was listening with far-away eyes. "Yes, I shall like that," she said. "It is very nice of you to think of it." Nick straightened his knees and got up.
Word Of The Day