THE JUNGLE GIRL by GORDON CASSERLY Author of _The Elephant God_, etc. New York 1922 CONTENTS I. THE GREY BOAR II. YOUTH CALLS TO YOUTH III. THE LOVE-SONG OF HAR DYAL IV. A CROCODILE INTERVENES V. SENTENCE OF EXILE VI. A BORDER OUTPOST VII. IN THE TERAI JUNGLE VIII. A GIRL OF THE FOREST IX. TIGER LAND X. A POLITICAL OFFICER IN THE MAKING XI. TRAGEDY XII. "ROOTED IN DISHONOUR" XIII. THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE XIV. THE DEVIL DANCERS OF TUNA XV. A STRANGE RESCUE CHAPTER I THE GREY BOAR Youth's daring courage, manhood's fire, Firm seat and eagle eye, Must he acquire who doth aspire To see the grey boar die. --_Indian Pigsticking Song_. Mrs. Norton looked contentedly at her image in the long mirror which reflected a graceful figure in a well-cut grey habit and smart long brown boots, a pretty face and wavy auburn hair under the sun-helmet. Then turning away and picking up her whip she left the dressing-room and, passing the door of her husband's bedroom where he lay still sleeping, descended the broad marble staircase of the Residency to the lofty hall, where an Indian servant in a long red coat hurried to open the door of the dining-room for her. Almost at that moment a mile away Raymond, the adjutant of the 180th Punjaub Infantry, looked at his watch and called out loudly: "Hurry up, Wargrave; it's four o'clock and the ponies will be round in ten minutes. And it's a long ride to the Palace." He was seated at a table on the verandah of the bungalow which he shared with his brother subaltern in the small military cantonment near Rohar, the capital of the Native State of Mandha in the west of India. Dawn had not yet come; and by the light of an oil lamp Raymond was eating a frugal breakfast of tea, toast and fruit, the _chota hazri_ or light meal with which Europeans in the East begin the day. He was dressed in an old shooting-jacket, breeches and boots; and as he ate his eyes turned frequently to a bundle of steel-headed bamboo spears leaning against the wall near him. For he and his companion were going as the guests of the Maharajah of Mandha for a day's pigsticking, as hunting the wild boar is termed in India. He had finished his meal and lit a cheroot before Wargrave came yawning on to the verandah. "Sorry for being so lazy, old chap," said the newcomer. "But a year's leave in England gets one out of the habit of early rising." He pulled up a chair to the table on which his white-clad Mussulman servant, who had come up the front steps of the verandah, laid a tray with his tea and toast. And while he ate Raymond lay back smoking in a long chair and looked almost affectionately at him. They had been friends since their Sandhurst days, and during the past twelve months of his comrade's absence on furlough in Europe the adjutant had sorely missed his cheery companionship. Nor was he the only one in their regiment who had.