Hush descended on the birds of the valley br a horned owl hooted on the hill above me br emerged from the mist a pale blue moon br you know in the jungle the night comes soon! br br Nocturne shimmered expectant still br the king had arrived to claim his kill br his shadow moved with a low mutter growl br stopped in its hoot the lone horned owl! br br Thirty feet below neath the yawning screen br on the big oak the tallest on ravine br it so seemed but only a few pace br within the reach of the king's embrace! br br The two only knew who were in the war br one to be witnessed by the langur sambar br cries of caution they all would sing br not least bothered arrived the king! br br On its track stopped the wind afraid br as the risen moon showed the king's head br his paws advanced eyes fixed on me br for three days the king was going hungry! br br Licking his kill he took an apple bite br birds took flight night froze in fright br to shoulder must raise my rifle on knees br while the king ate his dinner in peace! br br His eyes glimmered in pleasure's full glow br my fingers closed and inched up slow br but what I did over the valley rang out br cupping my hands gave a full throated shout! br br It echoed in the hill such loud was the blare br the king ran for life with his tail in the air br and so long he lived couldn't recover from daze br of being driven by a weakling out of village!br br Pradip Chattopadhyaybr br