he turned expectantly to the door. He sprang up as a tall man with
handsome, clear-cut features, dark complexion and eyes, and
close-cropped black hair touched at the temples with grey, entered the
room. With a pleasant smile the newcomer walked towards the subaltern
with outstretched hand, saying in a friendly voice:

"Glad to welcome you to Ranga Duar, Wargrave."

"Thank you very much, sir," replied Frank gripping his hand and greatly
taken at once by the Political Officer's appearance and friendly manner.
"It was very kind of you to send those guns for me. But I had no luck.
We saw nothing on the way."

After greeting him Colonel Dermot bent over his wife and kissed her
fondly. It was obvious to the subaltern that after their five years of
married life they were lovers still. Frank looked at them a little
enviously. He wondered would it be so with Violet and him after the same
lapse of time; for the sight of their happiness sent his thoughts flying
to the woman who loved him.

"Are you keen on shooting, Wargrave?" said the Colonel.

"Oh, yes, he is, Kevin," broke in his wife. "I told him that I was sure
you'd be glad to take him with you into the jungle sometimes."

"I'll be happy to do so, if you care to come with me, Wargrave," said
the Colonel.

"I'd love to, sir. It would be awfully good of you," replied the
subaltern eagerly. "But I've only a Mannlicher rifle."

"Ah, you'll need a bigger bore than that. But I can lend you a .470 high
velocity cordite weapon. You want something with great hitting power
for dangerous game," said Dermot.

He went on to speak of the jungle and its denizens; and his conversation
was so interesting that Wargrave forgot the flight of time until his
hostess reminded him that he had to report his arrival to his commanding
officer and find his new quarters. Her husband volunteered to show him
the way to the Mess and introduce him to Major Hunt.

As Wargrave shook hands with Mrs. Dermot, she said:

"I wanted to ask you to dinner this evening; but Kevin thought you might
prefer to spend your first night with your brother officers. But we
shall expect you to-morrow, when they are coming, too."

On their way up the steep road from his bungalow the Political Officer
spoke of the great forest below them and the sport to be found in it.
Then he said:

"It's lucky you like shooting, Wargrave, for Ranga Duar is very isolated
and life in it dull to a person who has no resources. Stil