THE PANTHER'S SECOND VICTIM
The expedition down to the Holikul jungle, proved a triumphant success,
not only in the matter of sport, but of well-chosen and congenial
company; Nancy, far from being an encumbrance, largely contributed to
the comfort of the party.
The little camp was surprisingly well found; ice never failed, a
tablecloth and brilliant tropical flowers, gave a touch of civilization
to the alfresco meals, and after a long arduous beat among sweltering
undergrowth, it was agreeable and refreshing, to sit out in the
starlight, whilst Nancy and Nicky Byng sang solos and duets, the
servants squatted round at a respectful distance, and Togo kept
solitary ward.
Nancy proved to be well versed in forest lore. What she had picked up
as a small child, when accompanying her father on various shooting
expeditions, had never faded from a mind which held all impressions
with tenacity. She knew the names of strange trees, and gorgeous
flowering shrubs, and could relate, stirring legends and fabulous tales
of the mysterious white tiger.
In her own line, Miss Travers proved as successful a hostess, as
her great example at Clouds Rest, and in spite of her ingenuous
girlhood,--had a way of mothering, and managing, the entire circle.
There was not a spark of coquetry in her composition. She chatted to
Ted and Nicky, precisely as if she were their pal and comrade, and it
was evident to Mayne, that the "Corner boys," no less than Travers
himself, worshipped the sole of this wood elf's small brown shoe!
Her birthday was an auspicious occasion. The house-servants, and head
shikari, offered bouquets and wreaths; "The Corner" presented a tennis
bat, and Mayne had surreptitiously placed a little parcel upon Nancy's
plate. As she opened the blue velvet case, and beheld its contents, she
gave a scream of delighted surprise.
"Oh, Daddy, how dare you? you wicked man!" she cried; "it's far too
beautiful for me. I've always longed for a wristlet watch,--but never a
gold one like _this_--why, it's prettier than Finchie's," and she rose
to embrace him.
"Here is the wicked man," he protested, pointing to Mayne; "my present
has not arrived, but I expect it is waiting for you up at Fairplains."
"Captain Mayne," she exclaimed, with dancing eyes, "how ever so much
too kind of you! I declare I'd like to kiss you. May I, Daddy?"
glancing at him interrogatively.
Mayne looked at him expectantly, and stood up, prepared to accept this
astonishing favour.
"My dear child," said Travers, "you are eighteen to-day, and must not
go thrusting your kisses on young men."
"But I never did before," she protested.
"You should keep your first kiss for someone, who may come along one
day!"
"Oh, Daddy," she murmured, blushing deeply through her tan, "now you
have made me feel so shy, and uncomfortable. You all know," appealing
to Ted and Nicky, "that I only wanted to do something, just to show
Captain Mayne, how delighted I was--and am."
"You can do that in another way, Nancy," he replied, resuming his seat.
"Call me by my Christian name--the same as these fellows."
"Derek--yes--and it's much prettier than Ted, or Nicky."
"So now, Mayne," said Nicky, "you are paid off handsomely, and at _our_
expense."
It was a merry, not to say noisy breakfast party; Nancy with two long
white wreaths round her neck (in a third she had invested her father),
the wristlet watch on her mahogany wrist, was in the wildest spirits.
"I woke this morning very early," she said; "almost before the birds,
not because I was expecting presents in my stocking,--like at Christmas
time, but because I was going to be eighteen, and I seemed to hear
the bamboos--you all know how they whisper--murmuring to one another,
'Eighteen, eighteen, eighteen!'"
"Eighteen, will have to take to gloves and corsets," said Nicky, as he
fumbled for his pipe.
"Fancy mentioning such an article in the free-as-air jungle," protested
Nancy; "and anyway, my waist is only twenty inches."
"Nancy, spare us these particulars," protested her father. "One would
think you were among a pack of women."
"Never mind him, Nancy," said Byng. "Tell him it's too late to start to
keep you in bounds--and as for waists--Ted's is fifty."
"Daddy, I do wonder what you have got for me," she asked abruptly.
"Won't you tell me?"
"I know," said Mayne; "it's awfully nice, you'll like it better than
anything--and it's coming all the way from London."
"Then it must have cost a heap of money," she exclaimed. "Oh, Daddy!"
"Oh, Nancy," he echoed, "it's time we made a start; the shikaris are
hanging about, so don't let us waste any more time," and he rose, and
broke up the party.
Those three days in the Holikul jungles were a delightful, and
flawless memory, to all concerned. How rarely can mortals say this!
Sunburnt and weary, the Fairplains party returned to the shelter of
a roof, and a daily delivery of letters, and parcels. The habit had
arrived--moreover, it fitted.
Two evenings later, Travers and Mayne, Nancy and the head shikari, had
been for a short, perfunctory beat, round the base of the hill on which
the bungalow was situated. They were homeward bound, the bag, a mere
peacock. Mayne and his host were a little in advance of Nancy, and last
came the shikari, carrying the peacock, and Travers' gun.
"This day week," said Mayne, "I shall be on my way----"
As he was speaking, they turned an abrupt corner, and there, within
forty yards, on a slab of rock, lay a sleek panther, and her two fat
cubs! As she sprang erect, Mayne ran forward, and fired. But slightly
wounded, she instantly leapt at him, and with such headlong ferocity,
and impetus, that the weight of her body knocked him down, and sent
his gun flying. Without a second's hesitation, Travers, armed with
only a stick, rushed to where the savage brute was worrying her
prostrate victim, and with all his might, hit her a smashing blow
across the nose. Turning on him, with a furious snarl, she seized him
by the forearm, but before she could do more, Tipoo ran up, and shot
her through the head. She fell back, and after a few kicks, and one
convulsive quiver, rolled over stone dead.
The whole scene had taken place within less than the space of two
minutes. Nancy at first had stood by, a horrified, and paralysed
spectator, but when the panther attacked her father,--she ran forward,
and struck at it frantically, with her stick.
And now to take stock of the casualties! Mayne, thanks to a heavy
shooting coat, had merely a few bruises, and scratches--nothing to
speak of,--in short a miraculous escape. Travers also, had got off with
a scratch on his neck, and a bite on his forearm. The latter might
have been worse,--but his coat had also saved him.
"Sam's leopard--and you nearly got him!" he said to Mayne. "You fired a
bit too soon, my boy."
"I believe I did--I was so keen to get the brute before she
bolted,--I'm most awfully sorry."
"Oh, it's all right," replied Travers. "I'm well used to these
scraps--she's a fine size."
"Never mind the panther, Dad," interposed Nancy, "but come along at
once and have your arm dressed, and Captain Mayne too," and she ran on
before them towards the bungalow, to collect, and prepare remedies.
Nancy had learned "First Aid," and was accustomed to doctor the
household and coolies; she dressed the wounds, and scratches with
prompt and skilful fingers, forbade all stimulants, and commanded her
patients to rest till dinner-time. This was by no means the first time
that Travers had been in a "hand to claw" combat, with a wild beast,
but to Mayne, it was a novel experience, and he felt not a little
shaken, and excited. It is not a pleasant sensation to have a heavy,
evil-smelling wild animal, on the top of you, and murderous yellow
fangs within six inches of your throat.
The following morning, the two patients described themselves as
"quite fit." Travers with his arm in a sling, went about his everyday
business, and Mayne commenced to make arrangements for his impending
departure. That evening Travers appeared to be fatigued, his eyes were
unusually bright, and Nancy's smiling face, wore an anxious expression.
"Dad, I'd like to send for Dr. Hicks, to have a look at your arm," she
said, as they sat in the verandah after dinner.
"Certainly not, Nancy," he replied testily; "you have done everything
that is necessary. I daresay I have brought a touch of fever from
Holikul. That's all that ails me. The bite is nothing. Now look here,
little girl, I won't have you worry."
As his tone was authoritative, Nancy, whatever she may have thought,
said nothing further.
The next day Travers made a very early start, and did not return,--as
was often the case,--in time for breakfast; and Nancy and Mayne were
_tête-à-tête_.
"Father is so hardy and wiry, and so used to jungle accidents,"
she remarked, "he won't ever allow me to look after him properly.
On Tuesday, only for him and his stick," she paused and glanced
expressively at Mayne.
"Yes, by Jove! the panther would have had me! There's no doubt your
father saved my life. That brute was making for my throat. I saw her
yellow eyes glaring into mine, she had her claws dug into my shoulders,
and, Lord, how her breath smelt! Yes, for once, I was face to face with
death; and I'd be dead and buried _now_--only for that swinging stroke
across her muzzle."
"The cubs made her savage," said Nancy. "Tipoo has shot them both--such
well-fed, fat, little creatures. All the family skins are now being
dried. Only for those cubs, the panther would never have faced
you--they are such slinking, treacherous cowards."
"And only for your father, _I'd_ not be sitting here."
"And how dreadful for your poor mother, if anything had happened to
you! If I were to die, it would almost kill Daddy."
Mayne made no reply. Mentally, he was comparing his mother, with her
father. Nancy looked as if she would still be flourishing at the end of
half a century, but if anything were, as she expressed it, "to happen
to her," it was quite possible, that Travers would go clean off his
head.
Travers returned at tea-time; as he stumbled into the verandah, and
sank exhausted into a chair, he looked completely "done."
"Ah, I see you have been down to the lower ground," said Nancy. "Now
that was really _too_ bad of you,--when you have a touch of fever."
As she handed him his cup she added:
"Let me feel your hand--why, it's almost red-hot!"
"My dear child, don't make a fuss," he exclaimed irritably; "I'll take
a dose of quinine, and lie down till dinner-time,--will that please
you?"
Nancy said no more, but shut her lips tightly, and began to prepare his
special buttered toast.
"I can't touch anything," he protested, "but I've an awful thirst on,"
and he swallowed greedily, one after the other, two large cups of tea.
"I'm afraid I must worry you, dear Daddy, and dress your arm," she
urged. "I promise I'll be as quick as I can," and she led him away to
his own room. Presently she returned, and said to Mayne, who was still
sitting in the verandah: "I want you to ride over at once, and ask Dr.
Hicks to drop in this evening,--quite casually, of course. I simply
dare not tell Daddy I've sent for him; he always pooh-poohs doctors,
and illnesses, and he won't allow me to take his temperature, nor will
he go to bed. His arm has a queer, livid appearance, and is terribly
swollen; I must say, I cannot help feeling rather nervous."
"Oh, all right," said Mayne, rising; "I'll be off at once, and I'll
bring Hicks back with me,--dead or alive."
When Mayne arrived at Panora, Dr. Hicks happened to be out, and it
was nine o'clock when the two men reached Fairplains. By this time
Travers, who now admitted that he was "feeling a bit out of sorts," was
obviously worse.
As they rode over, Mayne had given the doctor full particulars, about
the panther affair,--including the bites, and scratches.
"There may be poison in them," said Dr. Hicks; "these old panthers eat
garbage, and putrid carcases, and are nasty brutes to deal with; and
if septic poison sets in, Travers is rather a bad subject, and it may
go hard with him. However," he added philosophically, "there is no use
meeting trouble half way, and whatever happens, we must keep a cheerful
face before Nancy. There's a good, single-hearted child, if ever there
was one, and if by any chance, she were to lose her father--mind you,
I'm not saying there _is_ a chance--I don't know what would become of
her!"