ommon game-cock,
but the voice was much shorter, and more abrupt. The Malays call it the
_bekeko_. We had reached an open space, when we saw running before us a
couple of the most magnificent peacocks. Their tails, spread out as
they ran along, were fully seven feet in length. They had been feeding
apparently on the ground, till they were frightened at our approach.
Having the snake over my shoulder, I could not fire. My uncle raised
his gun, but recollected that he had not loaded. He stopped to do so,
when the birds, running on rapidly for a short distance, rose obliquely
in the air, and, to my surprise, flew over some lofty trees before them
and disappeared. I could scarcely have supposed that birds with such
large appendages could have risen thus easily. It was a magnificent
sight, as they spread out their spangled tails to aid them in their
flight.

At length we reached the camp, where Potto Jumbo had already prepared
part of the supper, and was eagerly waiting our return to cook the game
we might bring. The tea was boiling in our kettle, and we sat down to
our repast, while he plucked and cooked the remainder. Emily and Grace
came out of their bower, and officiated at our rural tea-table. Tarbox
and Roger Trew arrived directly afterwards. They had gone on an
excursion down the river, and reported that they had seen a large animal
bounding through the underwood. They had not got a clear sight of it;
but, from the account they gave, my uncle pronounced it to be a tiger.

"I must again warn you, my friends, to be on the alert," he observed.
"The scent of our cooking may attract him here; but unless he is very
hungry, I do not think he will venture among us."

All the party were eager to examine the snake which I had brought in.
Emily and Grace, however, shuddered when they saw it, and still more so
when they heard the risk to which Mr Sedgwick had been exposed. He
again complimented me on the coolness I had displayed when firing at the
animal.

Before leaving the camp, we had persuaded Oliver to lie down. My uncle
examined his arm, and bathed it in the cool water which we brought from
the river.

"You are in good health, or it might have been a serious affair," he
observed. "However, I hope, after a night's rest, you will be able to
proceed on the journey."

Oliver said nothing, but I saw by the expression of his countenance that
he was suffering a good deal of pain; indeed, it seemed surprising