CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
A GREAT FIELD-DAY, IN WHICH SLAGG DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF.
Now, although we have said that Jim Slagg knew how to pull a trigger, itdoes not follow that he knew how to avoid pulling that important littlepiece of metal. He was aware, of course, that the keeping of hisforefinger off the trigger was a point of importance, but how to keep itoff when in a state of nervous expectation, he knew not, because hismemory and the forefinger of his right hand appeared to get disconnectedat such times, and it did not occur to him, just at first, that therewas such an arrangement in gun-locks as half-cock.
Flinn reminded him of the fact, however, when, soon after entering thejungle, his straw hat was blown off his head by an accidental dischargeof Slagg's gun.
"Niver mention it," said Flinn, picking up his riven headpiece, whilepoor Slagg overwhelmed him with protestations and apologies, and theblack boy stood behind exposing his teeth, and gums and the whites ofhis eyes freely; "niver mention it, Mr Slagg; accidents _will_ happen,you know, in the best regulated families. As for me beaver, it's betterriddled than whole in this warm weather. Maybe you'd as well carry yourgun at what sodgers call `the showlder,' wid the muzzle pintin' at themoon--so; that's it. Don't blame yoursilf, Mr Slagg. Sure, it's worsethan that I was when I begood, for the nasty thing I carried wint offsomehow of its own accord, an' I shot me mother's finest pig--wan barrelinto the tail, an' the other into the hid. You see, they both wint offa'most at the same moment. We must learn by exparience, av coorse.You've not had much shootin' yet, I suppose?"
Poor, self-condemned Slagg admitted that he had not, and humbly attendedto Flinn's instructions, after which they proceeded on their way; but itmight have been observed that Flinn kept a corner of his eye steadily onhis new friend during the remainder of that day, while the attenuatedblack kept so close to Slagg's elbow as to render the pointing of themuzzle of his gun at him an impossibility.
Presently there was heard among the bushes a whirring of wings, and upflew a covey of large birds of the turkey species. Flinn steppedbriskly aside, saying, "Now thin, let drive!" while the attenuated blackfell cautiously in rear.
Bang! bang! went Slagg's gun.
"Oh!" he cried, conscience-stricken; "there, if I haven't done itagain!"
"Done it! av coorse ye have!" cried Flinn, picking up an enormous bird;"it cudn't have bin nater done by a sportin' lord."
"Then it ain't a tame one?" asked Slagg eagerly.
"No more a tame wan than yoursilf, an' the best of aitin' too," said.Flinn.
Jim Slagg went on quietly loading his gun, and did not think itnecessary to explain that he had supposed the birds to be tame turkeys,that his piece had a second time gone off by accident, and that he hadtaken no aim at all!
After that, however, he managed to subdue his feelings a little, andaccidentally bagged a few more birds of strange form and beautifulplumage, by the simple process of shutting his eyes and firing into themiddle of flocks, to the immense satisfaction of Flinn, who applaudedall his successes and explained away all his failures in the mostamiable manner.
If the frequent expanding of the mouth from ear to ear, the exposure ofwhite teeth and red gums, and the shutting up of glittering eyes,indicated enjoyment, the attenuated boy must have been in a blissfulcondition that day.
"Why don't ye shoot yerself, Mister Flinn?" asked Slagg on one occasionwhile reloading.
"Bekaise it shuits me better to look on," answered the self-denying man."You see, I'm used to it; besides, I'm a marciful man, and don't careto shoot only for divarshion."
"What's that?" cried Slagg, suddenly pointing his gun straight upwardsat two brilliant black eyes which were gazing straight down at him.
"Howld on--och! don't--"
Flinn thrust the gun aside, but he was too late to prevent theexplosion, which was followed by a lamentable cry, as a huge monkey fellinto Slagg's arms, knocked him over with the shock, and bounded off hisbreast into its native woods, shrieking.
"Arrah! he's niver a bit the worse," cried Flinn, laughing, in spite ofhis native politeness, "it was the fright knocked him off the branch.If you'd only given him wan shot he might have stud it, but two was toomuch for him. But plaise, Mister Slagg, don't fire at monkeys again. Iniver do it mesilf, an' can't stand by to see it. It's so like murther,an' the only wan I iver shot in me life was so like me own owldgran'mother that I've niver quite got over it."
Slagg willingly promised never again to fire at monkeys, and theyproceeded on their way.
They had not gone far, when another whirring of wings was heard, butthis time the noise was greater than on other occasions.
"What is it?" asked Slagg eagerly, preparing for action.
"Sure it's a pay-cock," said Flinn.
"A what-cock?" asked Slagg, who afterwards described the noise to belike the flapping of a mainsail.
"A pay-cock. Splendid aitin'. Fire, avic!"
"What! fire at _that_?" cried Slagg, as a creature of enormous size andgorgeous plumage rose above the bushes. "Ye must be jokin'. I_couldn't_ fire at that."
"Faix, an' ye naidn't fire at it _now_," returned Flinn with a quietsmile, "for it's a mile out o' range by this time. Better luck--och! ifthere isn't another. Now, thin, don't be in a hurry. Be aisy.Whatever ye do, be aisy."
While he spoke another huge bird appeared, and as Slagg beheld its sizeand spreading wings and tail, he took aim with the feelings of acold-blooded murderer. That is to say, he shut both eyes and pulledboth triggers. This double action had become a confirmed habit by thattime, and Flinn commended it on the principle that there was "nothin'like makin' cocksure of everything!"
Re-opening his eyes and lowering his gun, Slagg beheld the peacocksailing away in the far distance.
"Sure ye've missed it, but after all it's a most awkward bird to hit--specially when ye don't pint the gun quite straight. An' the tail, too,is apt to throw even a crack-shot out--so it is. Niver mind; there'splenty more where that wan came from."
Thus encouraged, our sportsman reloaded and continued his progress.
It is said that fortune favours the brave, and on that occasion theproverb was verified. There can be no question that our friend JimSlagg was brave. All Irishmen are courageous, therefore it is equallycertain that Flinn was brave, and the attenuated black could not havebeen otherwise than brave, else he would not have continued to enjoyhimself in the dangerous neighbourhood of Slagg's gun. As aconsequence, therefore, fortune did favour the sportsmen that day, forit brought them unexpectedly into the presence of the king of India'sforests--a royal Bengal tiger--tawny skin, round face, glaring eyes, andblack stripes complete from nose to tail!
There was no doubt in Flinn's mind about it, as his actions proved, butthere were considerable doubts in Slagg's mind, as was evinced by hisimmediate petrifaction--not with fear, of course, but with something orother remarkably similar.
Slagg chanced to be walking in advance at the time, making his way withsome trouble through a rather dense bit of jungle. He had by that timerecovered his self-possession so much that he was able to let his mindwander to other subjects besides sport.
At the moment when the _rencontre_ occurred he chanced to be wanderingin spirit among the groves of Pirate Island. On turning sharp round abend in the track, he found himself face to face with the tiger, whichcrouched instantly for a spring. As we have said, the sportsman wasinstantly petrified. He could not believe his eyes! He must havebelieved something, however, else he would not have gazed with suchdreadful intensity. Yes, there, a few feet before him, crouched thetenant of the menagerie, without the cage--the creature of picturestory-books endued with life!
Had Slagg's life depended on his putting his gun to his shoulder hewould have lost it, for he could not move. His fingers, however, weregifted with independent action. They gave a spasmodic jerk, and bothbarrels, chancing to be levelled correctly, sent their charges full intothe tiger's face.
Small shot may tickle a
tiger but it cannot kill. With a roar likethunder the brute sprang on its audacious enemy. Fortunately Slagg madean _in_voluntary step to the rear at the moment, and fell on his back,so that the animal, half-blinded by shot and smoke, went over him, andalighted almost at the feet of Flinn.
That worthy was equal to the occasion. At the sound of his friend'sdouble shot he had seized the large rifle and leaped forward in time tomeet the baffled tiger. Quick as light his practised hand dischargedthe heavy bullet, which, passing over the animal's head, went into itsspine near the haunches, so that when it tried a second spring its hindlegs refused their office, and it rolled over fuming and struggling inan agony of pain and rage.
Flinn ran a few paces backward so as to reload in comparative safety,while Slagg followed his example, but in desperate haste. Before he hadhalf charged the first barrel, a second shot from the heavy rifle laidthe royal monster dead on the ground.
"Well done!" cried Flinn, seizing his friend's hand and wringing it."It's Nimrod you are, no less. I niver saw a purtier shot. An', faix,it's not every man that kills a tiger his first day out."
"But I _didn't_ kill it," said Slagg modestly.
"Sure but ye drew first blood, me boy, so the tiger's yours, an' I wishyou joy. Come, we'll go home now an' git help to fetch the carcass.Won't they open their two eyes aich of them whin they see it! Here, yeblack spalpeen, take the rifle an' give me the gun."
In a few minutes the fortunate hunters were wending their way rapidlyhomeward, and that night the whole party, while enjoying their supper,feasted their eyes on the magnificent form of the royal Bengal tiger asit lay on the verandah, in front of the electricians' bungalow.