CHAPTER XIX 



A REAL TIGER STORY 



Told round the camp fire — The camp in the forest — Feeding the elephants 

 — A tiger shooting party in May — Tigers very numerous in old days 

 — Scarcer now and will require protection — Blank days — A day with 

 tigers — The morning start — -Tigers break out — Crusty sportsmen — 

 Advice to youngsters — Plan of campaign changed— Placing the 

 howdah elephants — The beat commences — A tiger's head appears — 

 Fire at tiger — An excited elephant — A second tiger's head appears — 

 Grass — A shot at the tiger — Tiger reappears and charges elephant — 

 Gets on to elephant's head — Exciting moments — Death of the 

 tiger — Elephant takes charge — A hot time — The Collector's luck. 



" "W" T was a blazing hot day in May several years ago, 

 I that I had the best fun I have yet had with tigers," 

 I said a friend one evening, as we sat round the camp 



-*- fire in front of the tents. " You have often heard 

 me mention that day, and I have promised to tell you the 

 story. So here goes for the yarn." 



The Collector of the District, a fine sportsman, lay back 

 in his deck-chair, took a pull at his cigar, and became 

 reflective for a space. 



Night had fallen, the camp was pitched near a small 

 forest bungalow in a clearing in the forest. As the firelight 

 danced and flickered, the trunks of the nearmost trees 

 stood out straight and columnar, and the grass heads 

 gleamed white on their greenish-yellow stalks against the 

 dark depths of the forest behind, whilst overhead the 

 heavens were lit with a brilliant scintillating mass of stars. 

 Now and then a dull rumble, as of thunder, came from the 

 quarter in which the elephants were picketed. The great 

 animals were contentedly chewing their evening forage ; 

 a great mass of green boughs of the pipul tree, having 

 been brought in earlier in the day by one of their 

 number for the night's meal ; for the elephant sleeps and 

 eats alternately throughout the night. At sundown his 



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