Chapter XVIII: 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."