in a year, and
it would be quite a triumph if he could add such a magnificent thing to
his collection.

_Coo-ow_--rang out the strange cry, and it seemed quite near. Then
again _Coo-ow_, and this time it appeared to be a long way off.

This was tantalising, but he concluded directly after, that the second
cry might be that of another bird answering the first.

They were now in amongst a number of low bushes, which gave them cover,
while it made the surrounding country less black than when they were in
the jungle-path. There they could only grope their way with
outstretched hands; here they could have gone on at a respectable foot
pace without danger of running against some impediment in the path.

The doctor cocked both barrels of his gun, after opening the breech and
making sure that the cartridges were in their place, and, in momentary
expectation of setting a shot, he kept close behind the Malay.

_Coo-ow_! came the cry again, this time a little to the left; and the
Malay stretched out a hand behind him to grasp that of the doctor as he
went cautiously on.

_Coo-ow_! again, but a little farther off, and with his nerves throbbing
with excitement, the doctor kept up the chase, now seeming close to the
bird, then being left behind, but never once getting within shot.

It was very provoking, but the guide was in earnest, and the doctor
would have gone through ten times the trouble to achieve his end.

And so they stole on through the thick brushwood, with the bird
repeating its cry so near from time to time as to make them feel that
they must get a shot directly; but still the hope was deferred.

A lighter patch in front showed that the forest was a little more open,
and the Malay loosed the doctor's hand for a moment to clamber over a
block of stone--when there was a rushing noise, what seemed to be a
heavy blow, a hoarse cry, and then silence, broken directly after by a
low deep growling, just in front of where Doctor Bolter stood--petrified
and unable to move.

He was too much taken aback by the suddenness of the incident to
comprehend for a time what had taken place; but directly after, with his
hands wet with excitement, and his heart seeming to stand still, he
realised that some great animal had been stalking them, as they had been
stalking the Argus pheasant, and, waiting for its opportunity, had
sprung upon and seized the Malay.

There was the low snarling growl not two yards from where he stood, ju