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  CHAPTER VII

  _The Hunting Cheetah_

  Since Bhanah and Nels had come to him, Skag had fallen into the way oftaking Nels out quite early for a full day's tramp through the brokenshelving Ghats. (This helped to bear the weight of the days tillCarlin's eldest brother should reach Poona.) The contours weredifferent from anything he had seen along the top or toward the sea; asif in the beginning the whole range had been dropped on the planet andits own weight had shattered the eastern side, to settle from thecracks or roll over upon the plains. Nels would travel close besidehim for hours; but if he ever did break away, Skag had only to callquietly, "Nels, steady!" and Nels would return joyfully. He neversulked.

  Every morning now, Bhanah carefully stowed in Skag's coat, neat packetsof good and sufficient food for himself and the dog at noontime. Skaghad never been cared for in his life; he had neither training norinclination to direct a servant. But there was no need. Bhanah knewperfectly well what was right to be done; and he was committed with hiswhole heart to do it.

  The order of Skag's life was being softly changed; but he only knew hisservant did many kind things for him which were very comfortable. Hewas a little bothered when Bhanah called him "My Master"--having notyet learned that servants in India never use that title, excepting inaffection which has nothing to do with servitude.

  The morning came, when Roderick Deal arrived. Carlin had said that allarrangements must be made with her eldest brother; and some tone withinher tone had impressed Skag with concern which amounted toapprehension. But when he walked into Roderick Deal's office and metthe hand of Carlin's eldest brother--there was a light in his eye whichthat Indian Sahib found good to see.

  Roderick Deal overtopped the American by two inches. He was slenderand lithe. His countenance was extraordinary to Skag's eye for itspeculiar pallor; as if the dense black hair cast a shadow on intenselywhite flesh--especially below the temples and across the forehead.There was attraction; there was power. Skag saw this much while hefound the eyes; then he saw little else. He decided that SanfordHantee had never seen really black eyes before; the size startled him,but the blackness shocked. (It was in the fortune of his life that heshould never solve the mystery of those eyes.) Skag felt the impact ofdynamic force, before he spoke:

  "You will not expect enthusiasm from me, my son, when as the head ofone of the proudest families in all India, I render official consent,upon conditions, to your marriage with my sister Carlin. . . . You aretoo different from other men."

  Skag had something to say, but he found no words.

  "You are to be informed that the only sister of seven brothers is amost important person. She is called the Seal of Fortune in India;which is to say that good fortune for all her brothers is vested inher. If calamity befalls her, there is no possible escape for them.This is the established tradition of our Indian ancestors.

  "We smile among ourselves at this tradition, as much as you do; butthere are reasons why we choose to preserve it, among many things fromthose same Indian ancestors. We have no cause to hate them. Hate isnot in our family as in others of our class; but we never forget thatit is _our class_."

  The brooding pain in the man was a revelation. Carlin had said, ". . .there are things you must understand."

  "You are already aware that we are English and Indian. But you do notconceive what that means. It is my duty to speak. All life appears tome first from the English standpoint; but you see the _shadow of Indiaunder my skin_. All life appears to my sister first in the Indianconcept; but you will not easily find the shadow of India under herskin. We have one brother--darker than the average native. . . . Areyou prepared to find such colour in one of your own?"

  The question was gently spoken, but the eyes were like destiny.

  "Any child of hers will be good to me," Skag answered softly.

  A glow loomed in the blacknesses and Roderick Deal flashed Skag a smilewhich reminded him, at last, of Carlin.

  "European men, in the early days, were responsible for the branding,now carried by thousands in India--carried with shame and the bitterestsort of curses. But our line is unique in this regard. We areconditioned by a pride, as great as the shame I have spoken of. Onaccount of it, no one of us may enter marriage without public ceremonyof as much circumstance as is expedient."

  The storm-lights had gone down and a half-deprecatory, half-embarrassedexpression, made the face look so quite like any other man's, that Skagsmiled.

  ". . . Because we are descended from two extraordinary romances, bothof which were celebrated by the marriage of an imperial Indianwoman--one Brahmin, one Rajput--with a British man of noble family--oneScotch, one Irish. Carlin will tell you the stories; she loves them."

  Again the smile like Carlin's.

  "So she must come down to Poona, where she was born; and the ceremonymust be performed in the cathedral here, by the Bishop himself--who isa real man by the way, as well as distinguished."

  . . . That was all right.

  "You are to be published at the time of your marriage, in all theEnglish and vernacular printed sheets throughout India, specifically asa scientist whose research will take you much into jungle life."

  Roderick Deal paused for reply. Skag considered a moment and saidtentatively:

  "If my work will come under that head?"

  "Oh, quite! there is no question. And now I am come to the explanationof my delay. There have been preparations to make; dealings withIndian government. As you will understand, Government would beentirely unapproachable by any man himself desiring such anappointment. But influence is able to set in operation the examinationof his records; and if they are good enough, the rest can beaccomplished.

  "Carlin convinced me that you would make no serious protest; and I amassuring you that these conditions are really good fortune to you. Butthey are imperative; it must be this way or not at all."

  Skag was given opportunity to speak, but he had nothing to say, yet.

  "You must enter the service of Indian government in the department ofNatural Research. The appointment will give you distinction not to bescorned and a salary better than my own--which is very good."

  After a moment's thought, Skag said:

  "Will it tie me up?"

  "Not in the least. On the contrary, it will make you free."

  "What about my obligations?"

  "Your obligations will be entirely vested in reports, which you willturn in at your discretion. I understand that you already havematerials which would be considered highly valuable. Also, I hear thatyou have fallen heir to Nels, the great hunting dog. Of the four thatare well known, he is easily the best. And he is young; he will bringyou experiences out of the jungle such as no man could find alone.What the Indian Research department wants, is _knowledge of animals_."

  "That's exactly what I want."

  "Your Department will facilitate you, immensely. I speak positively,because the initial work is finished; there remains nothing, but thatyou shall come with me to the department offices and become enrolled.However, not before you are properly outfitted. My tailoring-housewill take care of you."

  "A uniform?"

  "Not a uniform exactly, but strictly correct; rather military, but morehunting; perfectly suitable and very comfortable. You'll be quite athome in it. It's the sort for you."

  The eyes measured Skag's outlines appraisingly, but betrayed nothing.

  "We have not finished. The matter of clothing is adjacent to anothernot less important. A foreigner in this country is nothing better thana wild man, without a servant."

  "I have one--" Skag spoke with inward satisfaction: "--Bhanah the oldcook, who did serve Police--"

  "Not Police Commissioner Hichens' _Bhanah_?"

  "Yes."

  "How?"

  "He came to me."

  "Did you negotiate with him?"

  "No."

  "Then will you kindly tell me, why?"

  "I do not know."

&nb
sp; There was a marked pause. The eyes had become wide.

  "Well--really . . . _Are_ you the sort-of-thing I've been hearingabout?"

  Roderick Deal's expression was kindly-quaint; and Skag answered thelook rather than the words:

  "How should I know what that is?"

  "You _have_ astonished me. And I am pleased. From Bombay to Calcuttaand from Himalaya to Madras--you will find no more valuable man, thanthat same Bhanah. He is called old, but he is not old. If you havenoticed, the term is always spoken as if it were one with hisname--because of his learning. He is the man of men for you. _How_did he come to you?"

  "He brought Nels with the note, that the dog was a gift. When hespoke, he said he was committed before the gods to serve me as long ashe lived."

  "How did his voice sound?"

  "A queer, level tone."

  "There is no doubt. _It is enough for one day_."

  The words were spoken with almost affectionate inflections. Skag waspuzzled. Roderick Deal stepped to the door and spoke to a servant;returning to his seat, he smiled openly into Skag's eyes beforespeaking:

  "Now you will come with me. We must lose no time."

  "Yes, I want to get back to Hurda as soon as I can."

  "Not before the monsoon breaks. It is due any day now, any hour. Tillten days after it has broken, no sane man will take train."

  "I want to get back. I think I will risk it."

  "You will pardon me, you are not allowed."

  The tone was perfect authority. The eyes smouldered, but the lipssmiled.

  "You are not used to be in any way conditioned, I understand that; butI am not willing to be responsible to my only sister for the smashedbody of her one man. Oh, I assure you _not_! And you may one daygrant that the guardianship of an elder brother is not a bad thing tohave. Why--I beg your pardon, but of course you are not here longenough to know the situation."

  He stopped abruptly and looked away, considering.

  "I will put it in one word and tell you that _one_ moment _any_ train,on _any_ track, may be perfectly safe; and the next moment, it may begoing down the khud with half a mountain. Again, we exercise theutmost care in all bridge-building--with no reservation of resources;but almost every year a bridge or more goes with the crash."

  "The crash?"

  "The reason why we say the great monsoon 'breaks' is not because itselfbreaks, but because--whatever happens to be underneath, you understand."

  The floor of protest had dropped away. Skag's face said as much.

  "The tailors will need till the rails are safe to get you fitted; andbefore the monsoon comes, I suggest that you take your hunter up intothe cheetah hills. Cheetahs are not supposed, by those at Home, toattack men. Many of them will not; but they are unreliable. Theforfeits they have taken from unbelief have made them a bad reputation,among the English."

  "The cheetahs I have seen in cages have been mild, compared withtigers."

  "Cheetah kittens are snared and broken at once by hard handling;meaning that it is not the cheetah himself, but what is left of him,one sees either in the kennels of the princes or in the foreign cages.You will remember my warning about his character?"

  "Thank you, yes."

  "Good. I have known men to prefer not . . . Then you will carryyourself alert in any kind of jungle. If you sight a cheetah, beprepared; he may _not_ attack. He may. Few men have eyes good enoughto follow him after his first spring. One should be a perfect shot;are you that?"

  "I am a good shot, but I don't like to kill animals."

  "Then I am the last man to commend you to the cheetah hills . . . if itwere not for Nels. He is entirely competent to take care of you,unless in one possible emergency. They sometimes, but rarely, work inpairs. If ever the dog should be occupied with one and another shouldbe in _sight_--be sure your unwillingness to kill does not delay you tothe instant of charge."

  "You imply that it is necessary to carry a gun in any kind ofjungle--always?"

  "Always wise, of _course_; but I consider it less imperative just now,because the animals are not what we call fighting. They are waitingfor the great monsoon. So--you might take your dog up into the cheetahhills--"

  "I don't see how a dog--"

  "He'll break the cheetah's back and cut his throat, before the realstart is made at you. But Bhanah will tell you whatever; and he isentirely reliable. You may depend upon him, without reservation."

  "That's a big thing to know."

  "India has many good servants, but Bhanah is a rare man."

  The unquenchable fires in Roderick Deal's eyes began to feed upon someenigma in Skag's own; he endured it a moment and then interruptionbecame expedient:

  "Does the monsoon come on schedule?"

  "It does."

  "What is it like?"

  "It is as much an experience as a spectacle. I'm not attempting todescribe the thing itself; it should be seen. But across thesouthwestern part of India, it includes the procession of the animals.All animals from all covers, running together."

  "There is something like that in the far north of America," Skag said."It is called the passage of the Barren Ground Caribou. They movesouth before the first winter storms in thousands. I've heard thatsometimes their lines extend out of sight. They have no food, but theydo not stop to forage. Our northern hunters say that nothing will stopthem."

  "That's interesting; immensely. I've not heard of it."

  "But I didn't mean to interrupt you."

  "Our creatures move in a trance of panic, straight away from the comingrains. I say a trance, because they appear to be oblivious of eachother; hunter and hunted go side by side, without noticing."

  The drive of Skag's life-quest was working in him, as if nothing hadever given it pause.

  "Do they go fast?"

  "The timid and lumbering come out first, hurrying; they increase innumbers, all sorts, and run faster till those near the end go at topspeed--it's a thing to see. Bhanah will tell you when and where towatch it; but be careful and get under good roofing in time. And then,after the tracks are set right, if you must reach Hurda in order tocome back with Carlin . . . Man, God help you if you do not give mysister the best of your gifts!"

  "Why, I belong to her--"

  Their hands met; and Skag's soul rose up without words, to answer awhite flame in the inscrutable eyes.

  Early the following morning, Sanford Hantee Sahib said to his servant:

  "Bhanah, what do you know about cheetahs?"

  "Such little things as a man may know, Sahib."

  "Are you willing to give some of it to me?"

  "All that I am and all that I can, belongs to my master."

  "Is that--the regular--"

  "Nay, _nay_! It is right for my master to consider, that I serve himnot for a price. This is true service--as men in my land bring tothings holy. Those who serve for the weight of silver, render theweight of their hands."

  "I don't want you to begin thinking that I'm holy though--youunderstand that."

  "There are meanings which will appear to the Sahib in time; it is notsuitable that they come from me. But this much may be spoken: if mymaster serves in a great service--then I, who am a poor man andignorant, may give something if I serve him."

  "If that's what you mean, it's all right. Then we won't go out thismorning, Nels and I. It'll be the time to get some of that littleknowledge of yours about cheetahs."

  It seemed to Skag that the uncertainty about just why Bhanah had cometo him, was cleared away; and there was a dignity about the man whichhe liked. It was all right.

  "Sanford Hantee Sahib should not go to find cheetahs before he knowshis dog," Bhanah began.

  "Just what are you getting at?"

  "My master is a preserver of life and Nels is a great hunter."

  "I've thought of that. Is there any danger that he will kill when Idon't want him to?"

  "Sahib, I, Bhanah, have known Nels since he was a puppy, I have seenhim
take his training to kill; therefore I believe he will quickly betaught to work together with my master, who is his heart's desire.This is the chief thing, that my master is his heart's desire. Butalso I know--he will kill when there is need for him to kill."

  "Does he ever fail?"

  "If he had ever failed, he would not be here. The Police CommissionerHichens Sahib--to whom may the gods render his due!--has many times sethim in the teeth of death; when occasion could be prepared, always."

  "He did not fight the hyena."

  "Now the Sahib speaks of an evil thing. For _that_ reason he was madeto live in a tent in the Jungle."

  "But what--"

  "The hyena is _evil-itself_; and a dog has no hope in him to fight withit. We may not 'speak _a name_ in the same breath of common-judgment';but I say that the living fear in a man's body made secret covenantwith the knowledge of this fact--because the man had long desired thatNels should die. The lady-beautiful and his small children--alltogether--I say they were made to live in danger--that some hyena mightdestroy Nels!"

  Only Bhanah's voice showed feeling as he finished.

  "So that's what I interfered with; and that's why he let the dog begiven to me."

  "It is straightly spoken. But the Sahib will not hold Nels less, forcourage or for power? There is not one to equal him."

  "Bhanah, we'll put that hope into Nels, against when he hears a hyena."

  "That will be with the good hunting-piece in my master's hands, atfirst--to teach him confidence. Then he will fear--_not anything onearth_. Then it will be _all_ like the cheetah hills to him. Sahib,it is more satisfying than food."

  "Where are the cheetah hills from here?"

  "South and West; not the way the Sahib has gone before."

  "You haven't told me about them before."

  "Because Nels was not come to full strength, since his hurt."

  "I'd hate to have him meet an accident."

  "To-morrow he will go safe. He rose up last night and listened to ahunting cheetah's cry."

  "Are they close as that?"

  "Not to a European Sahib's ear; but to Nels, yes."

  "Deal Sahib said you would tell me about the cheetahs."

  "What I have of value is by the common wayside; but _fortune causeswealth to flow down mountain streams for those who climb_. There areseveral things to consider, Sahib."

  Skag was amused; he had not yet heard that only the ignorant teachwithout apology. As seriously as possible, he said:

  "I am listening."

  Bhanah spoke gravely; his words falling like weights:

  "That he is--seldom seen--till it is too late--to prepare. He istreacherous."

  "Where does he hide?"

  "In the large-leaved trees which stretch their branches like that."And Bhanah held his arms out horizontally, one above the other,parallel.

  "All right."

  "That he is quicker than a man's eye."

  Skag waited.

  "And that he is more deadly than the tiger."

  "How is that?"

  "Because he is more quick. Because he is equal in power, even when heis not equal in weight. Because he fights not only for food, not onlyfor life, but for the love of killing. Of all living things, he is thecreature of blood-lust. He is the name-of-fear, incarnate. It wouldnot be a good thing for my master to hear, nor for his servant totell--the cheetah's ways with a body from which life is gone out."

  "You've made a strong argument for the cheetah as a fighter, Bhanah,but you don't seem to stand much for his character."

  "Who faces the hunting cheetah, Sahib, faces death. If the cheetahfalls upon him from above, or comes upon him from behind, he will knowdeath; but he will never know the cheetah. A hunter's first shot mustdo its work; he will not often have time to fire again."

  "I've got that. But I don't quite see what chance a dog has with him."

  "Only four dogs in this my land, have any chance with him, Sahib."

  "And the others?"

  "They live because they have not met a cheetah."

  "How does Nels do it?"

  "My master must look upon that, to understand. I have seen, but Icannot show it. It--" and a rare smile lighted the dark shadows ofBhanah's face, "is _soon_."

  "I've heard the Indian princes use them for hunting."

  "Yes, Sahib, many Indian princes keep hunting cheetahs as EnglishSahibs keep hunting horses. They go out after small things; andinnocent--mostly deer, of all kinds; even the _neel gai_, the greatblue cow."

  "Will Nels attack such things?"

  "Nels will not attack the defenseless; he has not been used for it.His ways are established in that; there is no fear. If he should beranging at any time, he will return at the first call; but if he doesnot, my Master, let him go. Be certain, _Nels knows_."

  "That's good. I'm in this country to get acquainted with animals--"

  "But to the preserving of men?"

  "When I find it's necessary, I've no objection then--"

  Bhanah stooped quickly and touched Skag's feet.

  "Vishnu, the Great Preserver, has sent another Hand to this my India."

  Skag looked into the man's face and found high light in it.

  Next dawn was hot, but there was a stimulation in it; not like themountains, not like the sea. The air was full of a mellow enticement,like strange incense; or romance. Skag enquired of his servant if theday would be right for the cheetah hills.

  Bhanah turned to the southeast and scanned the horizon line. Then heheld up his hand, palm toward the same direction, for a minute. Atlast he walked to a shrub and looked at its leaves, closely.

  "It may be that one day is left for my master to go into the cheetahhills; but the earth makes ready for the breaking of the great monsoon."

  Skag was getting interested in the Indian standpoint; he was findingsomething in it. Quite innocently, he used the subtlest method knownto learn.

  "What is the great monsoon?"

  "Beneficence."

  "What is the earth doing?"

  "Now, she is holding very still. When it breaks, she will shake.Having endured three days, she will rise up and cast off her oldgarments, putting on new covering--entirely clean."

  "Will I be able to see that?"

  "Nay, Sahib! The wall of the waters will be between your eye and everyleaf."

  . . . The wall of the waters; like the tones of a bell far off, thewords sank into some deep place in Skag. This day they would recur tohim; and in the years to come, they would recur again and yet again.

  Swinging along out of Poona toward the cheetah hills, Skag was buoyantwith healthy energy. His heart was like the heart of a boy.Consistent with his old philosophical dogma, this present was certainlythe best he had ever known. Carlin was in it, as surely as if she werepresent. Roderick Deal had proved to be a man to respect; and to love,secretly . . . "the guardianship of an elder brother."

  Looking back, he saw that Poona City was beautiful, lying close againstthe eastern side of the Ghats, just as they begin to fold away towardthe plains. No breath of plague or pestilence from Bombay could reachacross the ramparts of that mountain range.

  The air was getting hotter every minute; but it was good. The vistasstretched far--all satisfying. Bhanah said the monsoon was close."Beneficence"; the Indian idea of a deluge. He liked it all.

  They came up into the hills through some stretches of stiff climbing;and on the margin of a broad shelf Skag stopped for breath. Thepanorama behind had widened and extended immensely. The face of aplanet seemed to reach from his feet across to the eastern horizon,descending. He sat down on a flat rock and Nels comfortably extendedhimself near by.

  It was all good. The great golden jewel back in his heart, full ofafterglows--Carlin. The finding of a real man. The ways, thereservations, the revelations, of Bhanah. The beauty and character ofthe dog at his foot . . .

  Nels had lifted his head. His eyes were fixed intently on the emptywhite dista
nces of the sky. His pointed ears were set at a queerangle. There was nothing unusual to be seen, nothing Skag himselfcould hear. He paid closer attention; and presently, began to get aperfume. It was the great, good earth-smell; richer and fuller everyminute.

  Then Nels stood up and faced the southeast. Skag looked where the dogseemed to be looking. Along the horizon line he saw an edge of darkgrey. No, the horizon line was cut; this thing lay against the earthas straight as the blade of a knife.

  Now Skag began to feel something in the air. He couldn't recognise it,nor define it, but it was imperative--some kind of urge. There was thesense of emergency, perfectly clear; so much that he turned and lookedabout, listening for a call. He thought of Carlin; could she be in anyneed? He was glad she wasn't here; this was a good place to get awayfrom . . . Ah, that was it! _The urge to run_.

  "How is it, Nels, old man, does the great monsoon make us feel likemoving?"

  Nels stood like a thing carved out of solid pewter. He did not hear.He faced the southeast. But Skag understood why the animals were dueto make a procession; the chief thing was to get away. Then Skagsettled into a perfect calm.

  Four spotted deer came trotting up the shoulder of a near incline,almost directly toward them. The dog watched them with a casual eye.They went by, sixty feet away. Nels was looking further on to where abig brown bear ambled along, making good time for one of herbuild--behind her, a yearling. Still Nels showed no inclination toleave his place.

  As if it were a vision of the night, the whole landscape before Skagbecame dotted with specks; all moving. All moving in the samedirection, almost toward him. As the numbers increased, he saw thatthey ran straight; there was no swerving. In spite of what RoderickDeal had told him, his mind demanded the reassurance of his own voice.

  "Nels, is it real? Are we asleep?"

  The dog was a stoic; he moved one ear, but he did not lift an eye.

  Skag noticed that the hush in the air seemed to have laid a bond ofsilence on all these creatures. He had heard no calls, no cries. Andthese were the calling, crying animals of the world.

  Here and there at some distance, he saw the ungainly, shambling gait ofhyenas, in twos and fours and threes together, or alone. Once whenfour passed quite near, he felt Nels' shoulder against his thigh.

  "Nels, old man, buck up. I tell you, get a grip. They may be thedevil, but he isn't hard to kill. I'll show you. Do you get me, son?"

  Nels looked up into the man's face, a long look. Then he pressed hishead close, under Skag's hand.

  Spotted deer ran in small groups; they came into sight and passed outquickly. More swift and more beautiful, were slender deer with singlehorns, twisted spirally; sometimes very long. Skag thrilled to theirpride of action; but Nels seemed in no wise interested.

  There was another kind of deer seen at some distance; the bucks werefull-antlered and from where Skag stood, they looked light grey colour.Rabbits scuttled in and out of sight constantly, all over the landscape.

  Between the parallel lines of seven spotted deer on one side and asmall herd of grey deer on the other, he saw a great, low-leapingbeast; plainly yellow with black stripes--one tiger the sportsmen hadnot bagged.

  Evidently some mighty thing had transcended enmity and annihilatedfear--_for one day_.

  Little things held his eye one while. Creatures like monsterrats--they were really mongooses--racing for their lives. Lizards fromtwo to eighteen inches long; and he saw one with rainbow colours in hisskin, mostly red. He learned afterward it was a great-chameleon; andangry. He saw one small scaled thing, rather like a crocodile inshape, but with a sharp-pointed nose; it waddled by, near enough toshow two little black beads in its face.

  When Skag lifted his eyes the earth seemed to have given up a score ofpacks of jackals. Their action was not like the wolf nor like the dog;it was a short, high leap--giving to a running pack the effect of_bobbing_. They were more perfect wolves than the American coyote, butsmaller; and they looked to have much fuller coats. Searching thelocation of these groups of bobbing runners, his eye lifted toward thesoutheast.

  . . . The grey knife-blade had cut away half the world. It laystraight across the earth, midway between his feet and where thehorizon line should curve. Without any look of motion, without anyshine or sheen, smooth as a wall of dull-polished granite, it rose tobeyond sight in the sky--the utterly true line of its base upon theground.

  . . . So this was _the wall of the waters_.

  No man dare interpret it to any other man; but Skag found perfect awe.Then he grew very quiet--his faculties alert as never before.

  When he noticed the landscape again, the bobbing packs were gone.Slender spotted things in pairs and alone, were leopards--leaping longand low. A great dark creature, going like the wind, was a blackpanther.

  Then he saw, right before him, the unthinkable. Majesty in miniature.A perfect East Indian musk buck--the most beautiful of living things.The wee fellow came on, leaping to the utmost of his strength; hisnostrils wide, his lips apart, his eyes immense. He swayed a little,wavered and fell.

  Skag ran and leaned over him--the little heart was driving out thelittle life. It seemed a pity out of all proportion. . . . He heldthe tiny breathless thing tenderly, as if it were a dead child. . . .So he laid it down reluctantly, at last; and straightened--to see ahunting cheetah coming toward him, not far away.

  He glanced down, Nels was not there. He looked all about, Nels was notin sight. Then the reserves in Skag's nature came up. All histraining flashed across his brain. Every nerve, every muscle in hisbody, was instantly adjusted to emergency. There was no failure inco-ordination.

  He stood quietly watching the cheetah. It appeared not to have seenhim. If it kept on, it would pass about seventy feet away. But Skagknew it would not keep on. With his mind he might think it would, butsomething in him knew it would not.

  He remembered Carlin; no, he must not think of her now. He rememberedthat Nels was gone; no, he must not think of that either. All theweapons he had were in his heart, in his head. He set himself inorder, ready. Recalling, while he waited, with what joy he had beenready to face the tiger that coughed near the monkey glen, to standbetween Carlin and it--he was aware that now he faced a hunting cheetah_as much for her_.

  The cheetah stopped, and turning toward him direct, laid itself alongthe ground so tight he could see only a line of colour among thegrasses. There it seemed to stay.

  When a man deals with a cat, to allay fear or to establish any commonground of sympathy, he ought to see its eyes. While realising thisfact, Skag heard a piercing cat-scream, some distance back of him. Hehad not heard sounds from any of the animals before. . . . He foundhimself calculating whether the monsoon or night or the cheetah, wouldreach him first.

  Changing sun-rays had laid a sheen resembling silver upon the wall; notdazzling, but softly bright. After a while the cheetah showed, nearerthan when it settled into the grass. The wall was moving forwardsurely--as surely as time--but the cheetah would reach him first.

  At last he saw two yellow discs. Then he worked with his power--hissupreme confidence. He had never been more quiet, never more fearlessin his life.

  The hunting cheetah moved toward him without pause, till he could seethe whole body along the ground; the broad, short head; the wide,sun-lit eyes. And while he sent his steady force of human-kindlythought into those eyes, they _narrowed into slits_. In that instantSkag knew that the beast had no fear to allay; no quality of nature hecould touch. It was a murderer, pure and simple.

  Then he thought of Carlin. . . . Of her brother. . . . Of Nels. Heopened his lips to speak, but the name did not pass his throat.

  Carlin, Carlin! It was only a question of time; and Skag folded hisarms.

  And high against the wall of the waters rolled the clarionchallenge-call of Nels, the Great Dane dog. The cheetah leaped andsettled back. Skag turned to look the way it faced. A grey lineflashed along the ground.
Skag did not know it, but he was racingtoward their meeting.

  The cheetah lifted and met Nels, body against body, in mid-air--Skagheard the impact. Nels had risen full stretch, his head low betweenhis shoulders; the cheetah's wide-spread arms went round him, but hisentire length closed upon the cheetah's entire length--like ajack-knife--folding it backward. Skag heard a dull sound, the sameinstant with a keen cat-scream--cut short as the two bodies struck theearth. When he reached them, Nels was still doubled tight over thecheetah's backward-bent body; his grey iron-jaws locked deep in thetawny throat.

  "Sahib! Sanford _Han_--tee Sahib!"

  "Hi, Bhanah; this way!"

  Bhanah came with a rain-coat in his hand. Stooping to examine Nels amoment and rising to glance at the wall, he spoke rapidly:

  "The Sahib has seen his Great Dane Nels kill a second cheetah in oneday. There are two cuts on each leg. Also because Nels must not losehis strength on a fast journey to his master's place--I, Bhanah, willuncover mine honour in the presence of a man."

  And quickly casting his turban from his head, he proceeded to tear itdown the middle. While he worked, he talked--as if to himself--in halfchanting tones:

  "Men in my country do _not_--this thing; but I do it. Of a certaintyNels has accomplished that I could not, though I would. This night twocheetahs remain not--the gods witness--to destroy little tenderchildren of men. And when the so-insignificant cuts of Nels shall bepresently wrapped with the covering of mine own honour, I shall beexalted not less! _The gods witness_. Then we return swiftly into asafe place."

  This was no ordinary exultation. Skag's ears were wide open; and heheard grief--and hate.

  "How did you know where I was?" he asked quietly.

  "I heard the first cheetah's death cry; and I knew he was not far fromyou, Sahib."

  "I thought he was pretty far, one little while."

  Skag had spoken, thinking of Nels. Bhanah searched his face while thelook of a frightened child grew in his own. Again he stooped quicklyand touched the man's feet. He had done it once before--to Skag'sacute discomfort.

  "What's the meaning of that?"

  "That a man's life is in thy breath, my Master."

  "Bhanah, I'll find out--how to answer you."

  Then Bhanah laughed a low exultant chuckle, while he finished bindingNels' legs with a part of his own turban.

  "It is well, Sahib; the _fortune which never fails_ is thine. And now,if we are wise, we will run."

  Nels led, all the way; and they were barely under cover, when the earthindeed shook. The stone walls of the building rocked; the dull thunderof a solid, continuous impact of dense water upon its roof, filledtheir ears. The light of the sun was cut off.

  "Bhanah, you and Nels will camp with me to-night. This has been thehunting cheetah-day of my life; and--Nels is responsible that he didn'tget me."

  "My master is the heart of kindness."

  While Bhanah was busy, later, Skag laughed:

  "I'm remembering that you said Nels did it _soon_. How did he do it?"

  "By the drive of his weight against the cheetah's body; and thestrength of his limbs, in the action my master saw."

  They had eaten and Nels was properly cared for, when Bhanah spokesoftly:

  "Shall we have tales, Sahib?"

  Skag roused from a moment's abstraction to answer:

  "Bhanah, I don't remember anything I could talk about to-night, but thehunting cheetah--Nels got."

  "The hunting cheetah is one, Sahib; _there are many_. Telling is inknowledge and in speech; finding is in the man. I will tell, if theSahib pleases; but he shall find."

  So they had tales that night.