It stopped and began to peck. Dermot quietly raised his rifle and took
careful aim at its head. He fired, and the body of the cock fell to the
earth headless.
"What a good shot, Major!" exclaimed Noreen, who had been quite excited.
"It was an easy one, for this rifle's extremely accurate and the range was
very short. I fired at the head, for if I had hit the body with such a big
bullet there wouldn't have been much dinner left for us. Now I think that
we shall have to halt for a little time. I know that you must be eager to
get back home and relieve your brother's anxiety. But Badshah has been
going for many hours on end and has not delayed to graze on the way, so it
would be wise to give him a rest and a feed."
"Yes, indeed," said the girl. "He thoroughly deserves it."
She was not unwilling that the time spent in Dermot's company should be
prolonged. It was a sweet and wonderful experience to be thus alone with
him in the enchanted jungle. She had forgotten her fears; and the
remembrance of her recent unpleasant adventure vanished in her present
happiness. For she was subtly conscious of a new tenderness in his manner
towards her.
The elephant sank down, and Dermot dismounted and lifted the girl off
carefully. Noreen felt herself blushing as he held her in his arms, and she
was thankful that he did not look at her, but when he had put her down,
busied himself in taking off Badshah's pad and laying it on the ground.
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