Flora Annie Webster Steel

The Flower of Forgiveness Flora Annie Webster Steel

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ...but in life these were Bowriahs also. The boys, however, not being adult, are not as yet on the Register; but they will be. For the rest they are as Bowriahs. They eat jackals, wolves, and such unclean things." I felt myself on the point of adding, "But not cats--cats, etc.; " however I stopped myself in time, and asked instead if the boys stole, or lied, or--The Deputy Inspector interrupted me respectfully, yet firmly. " JSuzoor! not being adult they are not on the Register. Therefore the police have no cognizance of them--as yet." "Then why do they make for the village now they hear the roll beginning? " I persisted somewhat testily, as I saw Mungal and Bungal racing along to the gateway in company with a number of boys about their own age. " They do it to please themselves. It gives them dignity. Besides, in youth one learns habits easily. Thus it is better, since the boys will surely be on the Register if God spares them to adult age." I looked at the man sharply; there was positively not one atom of expression of any kind whatever on his face. It is a great art. On the morrow Mungal and Bungal turned up again as part of the shooting excursion, for even among their tribe of hunters they had already made themselves a sporting reputation; perhaps because, being orphans, they lived chiefly on their wits. It certainly was remarkable to see them on a trail, turning and twisting and doubling on traces invisible to my eyes; or sometimes, like a couple of Bassett-hound puppies, on all fours, nose down, creeping round some higher undulation to see what lay behind it. We had stalked a ravine deer which another party of Bowriahs had stealthily driven--all unconsciously--into a suitable spot, and I was just...