A TIGER HUNT. 279 



The tiger was lying in dense cover on some low hills. 

 On one side of these was open country, which he was too 

 clever to cross in the daylight, and on the other stretched 

 miles of jungle and grass cover. The elephants with the 

 guns went ahead to cut off the tiger's retreat, and the 

 beaters and pad elephants formed line to drive the tiger 

 towards them. He was soon on foot, but could not be 

 made to break, and we only got an occasional glimpse as 

 he ran through the thick jungle half-way up the hill side. 

 Colonel Fraser and Alan took snap-shots at long distances, 

 but without effect, till the tiger stood in the open for a 



moment opposite to Mr. J , but fully two hundred 



yards from him. The latter made a good and wonderfully 

 lucky shot, killing the tiger stone dead. 



It was a cowardly brute, and had shown no fight, nor 

 given the sport we expected. But the excitement at start- 

 ing was nothing to that when the dead tiger was brought 

 back to camp. It was dusk, and torches were lit, and every 

 one crowded round ; old Hermiron Singh leaning on his 

 staff, with one foot on the tiger's head, and an air of pride 

 which clearly said, " I alone did this." 



February 3rd. — One of the " tie ups " was killed last 

 night, but the tiger made off. So Alan went out after some 

 neilghai they saw yesterday. He shot a large blue bull, 

 and a ravine deer as he was coining home. 



Mrs. Fraser and I went to see the little Eaja, who got 



