Part 34 (1/2)

”That is the _arghilah_, generally called the adjutant,” replied Sir Modava. ”He is the licensed scavenger of Calcutta, for it is forbidden by law to kill or molest him. You see him walking about in a crowd with as much dignity and gravity as though he were a big banker; and he is also seen perched upon the walls and buildings. They have an enormous bill, as you observe. A friend of mine had a tame one; and one day when the table was ready for dinner he took a chicken from the dish and swallowed it whole. He has a searching eye, and discovers a hidden bit of meat, a dead cat or other animal, and bolts it in the twinkling of an eye.”

The steamer continued on her course down the river, and in less than four hours arrived at Diamond Harbor. It contained a fort, a signal-station, and a telegraph-office, though there is nothing in the shape of a village. The East India Company's s.h.i.+ps made this their port; but the improvement of the navigation of the river enables all the steamers to go up to the city, to which their arrival is telegraphed.

The extensive territory included in the delta of the Ganges is called the Sunderbunds, and is about equal to the State of Ma.s.sachusetts in size. It is a muddy region, cut up by a network of streams; and it is full of swamps, mora.s.ses, and mud-holes. Nearest to the sea is a belt of land, forming a wide extent of jungle, with a dense undergrowth of tropical plants and verdure; for it is in the Torrid Zone, which the tourists entered about forty miles north of Calcutta. This jungle was the objective point of the hunters of the party.

The captain of the steam-yacht took the company on board through a number of the lagoons and cutoffs to enable them to see the wild character of the scenery. Lord Tremlyn, Sir Modava, and Dr. Ferrolan were kept busy explaining the trees, plants, crocodiles, storks, and other animals.

At a pleasant basin, dinner was served on board, and it was quite as good as they would have obtained at the Great Eastern; for just now the party were government guests, and the officials could not do enough for a person of Lord Tremlyn's influence in England. After the meal the hunters prepared themselves for the sport in which they were to engage. Mrs. Belgrave warned her son to be very careful, and Mrs. Blossom did as much for Felix.

The steamer started into a cut-off leading through to the Bay of Bengal, the polite captain explained. It was full of game of all sorts, including the wild buffalo, rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, wild hog, deer, and the trees and bushes were as full of monkeys as they could swarm. It was agreed among the hunters that none of the latter should be shot, for they were harmless animals.

”Captain, dear, are there any schnakes forninst the joongle?” asked the Milesian, who was much exhilarated at the prospect of the sport, and easily slipped into the vernacular of his mother.

”Plinty av thim, Musther McGavonty,” replied Captain O'Flaherty, with a broad grin on his honest face. ”They air as thidck as broken heads at a Donnybrook fair.”

”Faix, ye's air a brither o' moine!” exclaimed Felix, grasping the hand of the captain.

”Air ye's from the County Carhk?”

”Oi'm from the county and parish of Kilkenny; or mi mudther was, thou'

she's dead now, long loife to her! Wud I foind ary cobry in here?”

”All you'll want uv 'em; and pythons too.”

”What is a poithon?” asked Felix.

”A big schnake; a boa, or loike him.”

”Is it the bore that runs up the river to Calcutty?”

”Not the same boa,” laughed the captain. ”But you speak English, for I have heard you do it; and I have about forgotten my native brogue.”

”If the boa is a snake, he is the fellow I want to see,” replied Felix.

”There's one of them now!” exclaimed Captain O'Flaherty, pointing to one wreathed around a bush.

The young hunter brought his rifle to his shoulder, and fired before the captain had time to say anything more. The python began to writhe and wriggle in the bush, and Felix fired again. Then he dropped off into the water. The rest of the company had been aft with the ladies, but they all rushed forward at the report of the rifle. The captain stated what the hunter had done, as he rang to stop and back the boat. They saw the bamboo on which the serpent had been, but the game could not be seen. They wondered what had become of him.

The rest of the hunters began to shoot ducks, herons, and other water-fowls. As fast as a bird dropped into the bayou he disappeared, and not one of them could be recovered. Captain Ringgold wondered what became of them, and the Indian gentlemen only laughed at his perplexity.

”But what becomes of them, for they do not sink?” demanded the commander.

”You shall see,” replied Sir Modava. ”Don't shoot the adjutants; but there is a long-legged heron. I will bring him down, for he waits very patiently to be shot. Now watch the water when he comes down.”

The bird dropped the moment he fired, and the instant he touched the water a pair of jaws closed upon him, and drew him under water. The company were astonished, and looked for an explanation.

”I never counted the crocodiles in this river; but I should guess there were at least a million of them, and they steal your game as fast as you bring it down,” said Sir Modava.

The ladies were interested; and another bird was shot, to enable them to see the operation of the saurians. The python was about ten feet long, and he must have been a meal for one of them. The cranes, herons, and storks were numerous; but the party decided to kill no more of them, for they held still, as though they were all ready to be shot; and there was no sport in such game.