88 INDIAN BIG GAME 



guilty of the deed. After breakfast I started for 

 the scene of the kill, and found that the body had 

 been dragged into a thicket, so that it was com- 

 pletely hidden from view. Selecting a good tree 

 for the machan, I had the cow dragged to the 

 open, and left word how to erect the platform, 

 returning myself to camp to get over the heat 

 of the day. 



Between 3 and 4 p.m., I proceeded once more 

 to the place, and, finding everything in order, 

 clambered into my perch, dismissing the shikaris 

 with instructions to return on hearing my gun 

 fired. About 5 o'clock, while the sun was still 

 fairly warm, I heard the sound of a heavy 

 animal forcing its way through the under- 

 growth, and from the noise never dreamt that it 

 was a tiger, although it came from the direction 

 in which I expected the tiger to appear. I had 

 not long to wait ere the animal appeared in view, 

 and it was the tiger, and a huge one too. It had 

 passed the place where the cow had been, and 

 pulled up just inside the edge of the thicket. On 

 seeing its meal, which was securely tied to a 

 tree, it gave a grunt and sprang a little back ; 

 as my eyes instinctively followed its movements, 

 I espied a smaller tiger — I should say a tigress — 

 just behind its mate, so there were two ! I could 

 not get a shot at the bigger animal, owing to 

 trees and bushes hiding the vulnerable spot, 

 so had to bide my time. At last he moved 

 a little forward exposing his shoulder. I took 

 careful aim and fired, flooring him on the spot. 

 I made absolutely sure of having bagged him, 

 and when his mate jumped right out into the 



