6o SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



now and again which sadly diminishes the pleasures 

 of the sport. 



Anyone who has been close to a tiger is aware 

 of a somewhat curious smell this animal has, both in 

 captivity and in the wild. It happened one day that 

 Walker and myself were moving along the banks 

 of a deep nullah to take up our positions for the 

 drive. When we were close to the " beat " I re- 

 marked to Walker that I winded a tiger. As we 

 were talking, one of the shikarees ran up to us, and 

 seemed intensely astonished that we had not met 

 the animal, as it was only a minute since he had 

 been seen going in our direction. From investiga- 

 tion it appeared that he had passed beneath us 

 three or four yards away, hidden by some long 

 o-rass and scrub. It is remarkable how a tisrer can 

 slip through the jungle without being seen, taking 

 advantage of every blade of grass and crouching 

 low to the ground. Under such circumstances, a 

 full-p;rown animal will look no bioraer than a cat. 

 Very different if he has to cross a patch bare of 

 cover ; no need to try to hide himself then. He 

 stands to his full height, and is one of the most 

 beautiful animals in creation. 



A somewhat curious incident happened one day 

 when I went alone with the beaters to hunt up a 

 panther, said to have his abode in a deep nullah. 

 I had taken up a position on the top of a pile of 



