JVE.WS OF A LEOPARD. 131 



the floor to Alan. Like Alice in Wonderland "Don't 

 say ' you ' to a Queen," is his only rule when he is forced 

 to address the Eaja. 



Wednesday. — About 10 a.m. Bhurie Singh comes for 

 us. There is news of a man-eating leopard, some eight 

 miles away. He has recently killed a woman, and we are 

 going to try a drive for him. Alan and the others ride 

 out ; I go in a dandy. We pass a venerable-looking 

 temple, with a much-respected little marble god inside. 

 He is covered with valuable ornaments, and has standing: 

 respectfully in front of him a smaller god, brightly gilt. 

 There are several other old temples along the road, of 

 curious shape, like huge Chinese vases with the lids on. 



At last we reach the scene of action, and halt in a 

 gorge surrounded by wooded mountains. The day is over- 

 cast, and a large tent is pitched for shelter. The Maharaja 

 works from seven to eleven every morning at State business, 

 and is to follow us. He shortly arrives at a hard gallop, 

 and as soon as he appears a bugle sounds a signal for the 

 beaters to commence. Bhurie Singh tells us that they 

 are so far away we are not likely to see anything for some 

 time. 



In about an hour a line of men appear quite suddenly 



all along the crest, and down both sides of the hill. They 



are so far off that they look little dots ; but in spite of the 



distance you can hear them distinctly, and a terrible din 



K 2 



