THE CHARM NARRI-COMBO. 153 our prospective meal, seemed delighted; for no sooner had the leopard, or chetah, as he called it, disappeared, than he drew his long knife, and commenced cutting from the head of the slain jackal a small cone-shaped horn about half an inch in length, muttering, as he performed the operation, "Namo Bud-dhaya” (Buddha be praised), which thanksgiving, while I was smarting under my loss, vexed me so much that I exclaimed, "At what are you rejoicing, you idiot ?" "Fos not what you call eediot, Namo Bud-dhaya. He has found Narri-combo, and Narri-combo better den one, two, tree buffalo, 'cos it make 'um good luck all time 'um live." The meaning of which was, that the horn he had taken from the jackal's head, and which he called Narri-combo, is believed by the natives to be a charm which will protect its possessor from the ills of life, but especially against thieves, and, moreover, so adhesive to its discoverer, that even if lost or stolen, it will invariably return of its own accord. "Well, well, Fos, secure this precious treasure in thy vest, so that we may hasten to the tents, for I am well-nigh wearied out with our day's adventure," said I. Fos obeyed, saying, "Excellency, 'es. tent not far. And as he But see, spoke he pointed to a distance of about a mile, where, beneath the clear, brilliant moonlight, I saw a column of dark smoke wending its way skywards. "Hurrah! It is the tents. Let's onwards, boy," I exclaimed, joyfully. And, tired as I was, I put my best foot forwards; and away we trudged through the jungle, then through the skirt of a forest. Scarcely, however, had we entered, than Fos, falling upon his knees, and placing his ear to the ground, cried"Ah! what dat?" But the noise that had arrested his attention was too plain to admit of a doubt. It is "For the love of Heaven, quick, Fos! the cry of a woman. It may be that my sister is in some danger," said I, thinking at once of May. "No; not missee," said Fos. And he was right; for as the screaming grew louder, I could hear the sounds of footsteps. We had passed from the woods, and were entering a wide, open plain. The moon shone upon the grass, which had been trampled down apparently by a herd of elephants or a party of human beings. A woman was before me, screaming and running towards us with the fleetness of a hunted deer. As, indeed, hunted she was; for, not twenty yards behind, followed, in full pursuit, a scantily-attired individual, whose dark skin, long, black, shaggy A WOMAN-HUNTER AT BAY. 155 hair, and savagely-exulting eyes, gave him more the appearance of a demon than a man. But taken, even as I was, by surprise, my mode of action required no thought. It was clear that a woman was being hunted, perhaps to death, by a man. I ran forward. She advanced; but, mistaking me for a new enemy, she stood aghast for a minute; then, as if resigned to her fate, whatever it might be, fell at my feet, clutched my knees, and looked up into my face most piteously, as if appealing for protection. This appeal I answered by at once holding my rifle club fashion; and the pursuer, perceiving the attitude, came to a dead halt, and for an instant stood as if undecided whether to advance or retreat. A little reflection, however, led him to adopt the latter course. So, turning upon his heels, he fled as if for his life; and the woman, finding I could not understand her language, turned to Fos. 156 CHAPTER VIII. WE SAVE THE DAUGHTER OF OUR ENEMY-FOS SHOWS HIS ANTIPATHIES-AND BOB IS CURED BY THE SAVAGES. FLUTTERING with fear, like a fresh-caught bird, the poor girl-for girl she was-related her story in a few words; but so agitated was Fos with indignation, that it was with some difficulty he performed his office of interpreter. He stamped his feet-he spluttered-and shaking his fist at the retreating man, said— "Dat 'um dirt. 'Um pig's son. Namo Buddhaya! he not touch Excellency." "Come, come, Fos," said I, endeavouring to calm him, "what has the poor girl to say for herself?" "'Um dirt; 'um pig's son; 'um Rodiyas," he repeated, still shaking his fist; then adding, "Lady am de chile ob great man, friend ob King ob Kandy, who send farder down to Minery; but while 'um wid daughter, two bad man, enemy, tell King big lie about de fader, which make King send soldier after 'um, wid order to kill fader, and give daughter to pigs, to dirt, to filth." WE SAVE A DARK GIRL. 157 "Give her to the pigs!" I repeated. "Excellency, 'es. Worse den de pigs; to de Rodiyas," he replied. "But," he continued, "soldier long time before find pigs; but, when 'um did, and dat pig's son what ran away was going to put de betel in lady's mouth, she went off dead." "Dead ?" I repeated, interrogatively. "'Es, Excellency; dead till 'um come to life again," he said, endeavouring thereby to explain that the lady had fainted; then he continued, "When lady dead, pig's son take her to his fader, moder, broder, and sister pigs. But, when 'um lady come out ob dead, she find 'umself in tent wid a white lady." "A white lady, Fos?" Den Must be good missee. good missee help her to run 'way; but, when run, pig find out, and run too, till Excellency frighten him away." Here the poor lady caught hold of the boy's knees, and was evidently begging some favour of him. "What is she saying now, Fos?" I asked. "She beg, she pray, Excellency be good man, and kill her, or let her go and jump in water." "Nay, she is mad. Hold her arm, Fos. Let us take the poor thing to the tents," I said, myself taking hold of her, for fear she should escape. |