164 INDIAN BIG GAME 



the middle of the nullah. We tested this, and 

 decided it was strong enough. 



On returning to sit up I found that a whippy 

 bough with a few leaves at the end interfered 

 with the view in one direction ; as, however, 

 it did not impede the view of the cow and her 

 surroundings, I left it. It would have made a 

 noise and taken time to remove it. 



Shortly after I had got into the machan a 

 wild buffalo, with two tame cows he had annexed, 

 came and grazed under my tree, and I got some 

 good photos at close range. 



The tie-up seemed bored and went to sleep. 



At 1 A.M. I heard the low growl of a tiger. 

 There was then a stillness almost painful in its 

 intensity. At 1.15 the tiger drew one long, loud, 

 very deep breath ; he made no other noise, and 

 charged. I was sitting up, acutely ready. There 

 was no sound from the cow, nothing to deaden 

 the noise of the tiger's galloping feet ; then 

 a blow, a second thud as the cow fell, and all 

 was still. 



I believe the cow never knew of her assailant. 

 I am certain she was dead before her head reached 

 the ground. 



This experience confirms a similar one of mine 

 years ago. I have never seen a tiger kill, only 

 heard it. On this occasion the darkness was 

 intense. 



I waited for the sound of his teeth before switch- 

 ing on the light. There was a dragging noise. I 

 turned on the light — no tiger, no kill. For many 

 seconds I switched the light high and low, but 

 could see nothing. There was a noise of crunch- 



