but be glad that his superior officer seemed always
ready to dispense with his aid, for thus he would find it easier to get
permission to go shooting.

His first excursion into the jungle was arranged at dinner at the
Dermots' house on his second evening in Ranga Duar. The Colonel proposed
to take him out on the following Monday, for on the next day the _Deb
Zimpun_ would arrive.

"He always brings a big train of Bhuttias with him, eighty swordsmen as
an escort to the small army of coolies necessary to carry a hundred
thousand silver rupees in boxes over the Himalayan passes. I like to
give them the flesh of a few _sambhur_ stags as a treat," said the
Colonel.

"Hiven hilp ye av ye bring any _sambhur_ flesh to the Mess, Wargrave,"
said Burke. "We want something we can get our teeth into. No, we expect
a _khakur_ from you."

"What's a _khakur_?" asked Frank.

"It's the _muntjac_ or barking deer," replied Dermot. "You wouldn't know
it if you haven't shot in forests. It gets its English name from its
call, which is not unlike a dog's bark."

"Whin ye hear one saying '_Wonk! Wonk!_' in the jungle, Wargrave, get up
the nearest tree; for the _khakur_ is warning all whom it may concern
that there's a tiger in the immajit vicinity."

Frank had already learned to distrust most of Burke's statements on
sport, for the doctor was an inveterate joker. So he looked to the
Political Officer for confirmation.

"Yes, it's supposed to be the case," agreed the Colonel. "And I've more
than once heard a tiger loudly express his annoyance when a _khakur_
barked as he was trying to sneak by unnoticed. There's a barking-deer."
He pointed to the well-mounted head of a small deer on the wall of the
dining-room.

"Whom do you expect up for the Durbar, Mrs. Dermot?" asked Major Hunt.

"Only Mr. Carter, the Sub-divisional Officer, and probably Mr. Benson."

"Eh--is--isn't Miss Benson coming too?" asked the doctor in a hesitating
manner so unlike his usual cheery and assured self that Frank looked at
him. It seemed to him that Burke was blushing.

"Oh, yes, I hope so," replied Mrs. Dermot.

"Er--haven't you heard from her?" persisted the doctor anxiously.

"I had a letter this afternoon brought by a coolie. Muriel wrote to say
that they were in the Buxa Reserve but hoped to get here in time. I'm
looking forward to her coming immensely. It's four months since I saw
her."

Frank could not help noticing that Burke seemed to hang on M