GEORGE HARKINS.
Few realize the annual destruction of life in India from serpents and
wild beasts. About twenty thousand people are annually destroyed by
animals, and of these nineteen in twenty are probably bitten by
snakes. The number of human victims tends to increase, in spite of
the fact that the number of wild beasts and snakes destroyed has
doubled in the last ten years, and that the Government reward paid
for their extermination has risen proportionately. Nearly two and a
half lacs of rupees (about $125,000) were thus paid in 1884. Next to
venomous reptiles, tigers claim most victims. Ten years ago wolves,
mostly in the Northwest provinces and Oude, killed five times as many
people as of late years; but the extermination of wolves seems to be
going on rapidly. Leopards are the alleged cause of death to about
two hundred human beings annually. Apart from the loss of human
life, the returns show an annual destruction of fifty thousand head
of cattle.
The tigers, beyond question, are the most fearful beasts of prey in
the world. Their strength, daring, activity and ferocity make them
the terror of a neighborhood. One tiger has been known to keep an
entire village in a panic for weeks.
But for the timely arrival of George Harkins, the crack shot, the
tiger would have killed the five persons, for he was an animal of
unusual size, and the single gun in the company having been
discharged no real means of defense was left.
Dr. Avery, speaking for the rest, told the main facts respecting
themselves, while Harkins added that he was a professional sportsman
on a hunt through that section of India. He had no relatives in the
country, but a number of friends among the officers of the army, and
he was in Delhi when the revolt broke out some nights before.
"Did you have any trouble before you left?" asked the doctor.
"Nothing of any account; a lot of rascals set upon me and the result
was I departed in somewhat of a hurry."
"I saw that little affair."
"You? Where were you?"
"In the street near by; I tried to get out to you, but the crowd was
too plentiful, and before I could do so, you showed that you needed
no help."
"Matters _were_ rather lively, and I had no weapon then but my
revolver, which I was rather tardy in using," laughed Harkins.
Addressing the others, Avery gave a graphic account of the doughty
style in which their new friend knocked the enthusiastic natives
right and left, winding up with a fusillade from his revolver and a
hasty withdrawal down the street.
While this chatting was going on, Luchman made a reconnaissance,
fearful that the sound of their firearms might have brought some of
their enemies to the spot. He reported the path clear. Harkins was
urged to join in the journey to Kurnal, but he preferred to stay in
that vicinity. When the ladies joined in the request, however, he
gallantly consented.
"I suppose it is good hunting almost everywhere in this part of
Hindostan, and I'll go with you."
Accordingly Luchman took the lead and the party resumed their journey
northward.
There lay the huge body or the tiger in the path where he had fallen,
and the ladies shuddered as they carefully stepped around it. The
two guns were reloaded, Harkins remarking that the mate of the tiger
was likely to be in the neighborhood.
Dropping to the rear with Avery, Harkins told him that he had been in
a couple of bad fights since leaving Delhi.
"There was no need of referring to it before the ladies," said he,
"for it might have alarmed them. You can make up your mind that we
shall have hot work before we reach Kurnal. These Ghoojurs, as they
call them, are all over the country, and are looking for plunder. I
had a brush with them before I was out of sight of the city, but the
most curious difficulty came this evening. I caught sight of three
persons just ahead of me dressed like our countrymen, and I hailed
them. They stopped and looked around, and then, before I knew it,
all three blazed away at me. They were natives clothed in the dress
of some poor unfortunates whom they had murdered.
"Well, they missed me, but I didn't miss when I let fly. One of them
collapsed, and the others ran for their lives. I was picking my way
through the jungle, when I was drawn aside by the camp fire of the
Ghoojurs which attracted you. I couldn't get a good look at you, and
as you were dressed much like natives, I didn't want to make another
mistake. I had made up my mind to try it again, however, when this
little flurry with the tiger brought us together."
The night was new, and all felt the necessity of using the hours
while they were at command. Since they were compelled to lie by as
soon as the sun rose, Luchman led the way back to the regular road,
where, though they were liable to meet persons, the danger from wild
animals was much less.
Lights were seen at varying distances, showing where some native
village stood or the camp fires still burned. The party advanced
with the usual circumspection, until a considerable distance was
passed, when Harkins remarked that he thought it would add an
interesting variety to the proceedings if Luchman would forage for
something to eat. The others thought the same, and the guide
expressed himself willing to do what he could for them.
He told his friends to keep straight ahead, and he would intercept
them before they could go far. With this promise he struck across a
cultivated field, quickly disappearing from view.
"Suppose we come upon a cross road," suggested Harkins. "I haven't
seen any sign boards in this part of the country, and if there are
any of those conveniences I can't read the language. I suppose you
can read Hindustani, Mr. Hildreth?"
The old gentleman replied that all of his family could readily do
that, though there was not likely to be any occasion for putting
their knowledge to use, beside which the moonlight was hardly strong
enough for them to peruse a sign at the roadside.
"There wouldn't be any trouble on that score," added Harkins, "since
I could hoist the doctor high enough to read the outlandish words for
you to translate; but more than likely the sign boards, if there be
any, have been turned the wrong way, so that we would travel straight
back to Delhi. It would be odd if we should run into the old
Emperor, and ask him whether that was Kurnal, and if it wasn't, what
was it, and who was he? Helloa, here's something!"
Along the moonlit road in front of them the figures of approaching
persons were observed. The fugitives stopped, doubtful whether to
seek shelter or stay where they were.
"I don't think they will disturb us, for they are coming from the
wrong direction," said Mr. Hildreth.
Nevertheless, all looked to their weapons, and the men placed
themselves in advance of the company, which turned to one side of the
highway so as to give the strangers plenty of room in which to pass.
The first noticeable object was an odd looking cart, drawn by a
couple of the singular hump shouldered oxen, peculiar to Hindostan.
They were swinging along at a deliberate pace, chewing their cuds
with the quiet enjoyment natural to their kind, while the box-like
structure was occupied by a man and half a dozen children. Behind
them came another cart, also overflowingly filled with humanity,
after which plodded a large number on foot.
The procession stretched out for fully a hundred yards. Every member
of it was ragged and dirty, and all were probably pilgrims to some
sacred shrine. They stared at the Europeans as they filed past, but
not a word was spoken, and they showed no interest in the small
group, the members of which were greatly relieved when the last
pilgrim disappeared in the dust of the highway.
Harkins now took the lead, expressing dissatisfaction over their own
manner of traveling. He declared that in a country so rich in beasts
of burden as India, it was a shame that the two ladies should have to
walk.
"Doctor," said the hearty fellow, "let us make up our minds to
capture an elephant, camel, ox, horse or anything that can be turned
to account. I prefer an elephant."
"Your plan is a good one if it can be carried out."
"We shall find a way of doing so."
"I am afraid that Luchman won't favor the plan."
"Then we'll execute it while he is away."