102 INDIAN BIG GAME chap. 



all, but on the above-mentioned date I got news 

 of a kill by him, so sent two Sholagas to mark 

 the spot and to come back with the news. I then 

 arranged for one man to post me above the kill, 

 while the other walked up from below. I was put 

 on a grand open level piece of ground some 

 twenty-two yards only from the victim, which was 

 in a ditch just above our bandy road, and as the 

 custom of this panther was to eat all he could in 

 the daytime, then leave the carcase and kill again, 

 I hoped he would be enjoying his mid-day meal. 

 I had barely been in position five minutes when 

 I heard a cracking of the undergrowth coming 

 towards me, and next moment out trotted Mr. 

 Spots to within ten paces, and on seeing me he 

 pulled up short ; but I gave him no time to think 

 what his next move would be, as I sent a bullet 

 from my " Ubique " fair into his chest and bowled 

 him over. He was one of the finest panthers I 

 have ever shot or seen, measuring, as he lay, 7J 

 feet, and with a neck circumference of 24 inches. 



The 30th of July will ever remain in my mind 

 as the day of one of the most exciting adventures 

 I have ever had. 



A part of the low country where game is fairly 

 plentiful, though much shot over now, is within 

 easy reach of us, and very often I run down on 

 the Saturday evening, to return on Sunday after a 

 morning's stalk. 



As good rain had fallen I did not care to lose 

 such a favourable opportunity, so packed my 

 kit and reached one of my shooting huts late in 

 the evening in pouring rain, and with the roof 

 leaking like a sieve ; but I made the best of matters 



