"I thought you said we might get a deer," said Phra.
"It is very likely, Sahib," replied the man. "Who knows what we may find in such a beautiful hunting-country, where no one disturbs the beasts? Ah, look!"
For at that moment Sul uttered a warning sound which can best be represented by the word Phoomk, and stopped short, but without curling up his trunk out of the way of some charging enemy.
The boys raised their guns to their shoulders, and waited for a chance to fire, but there was nothing seen save the waving and undulating of the long grass to their left, as if something were making for the jungle—something long, like a gigantic serpent.
"Shall I fire?" said Phra.
"It is of no use, Sahib," replied Sree; "the cover is too deep."
"What is it?" said Harry hoarsely—"a boa?"
"No, Sahib; a little troop of small monkeys following an old one. They have been down to the water to drink, and they are running back to the jungle trees."
"Oh, we don't want to shoot them," said Harry; "go on."
The elephant obeyed a touch from the goad, and shambled along, making the long grass swish, while he muttered and grumbled as if dissatisfied at there being no firing. But before they had gone a hundred yards farther he gave warning again, and almost at the same moment there was a loud grunting, a rush to the right, and two reports rang out as both boys fired.