174 TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS 



were well put up at the back, outside of the fire, and 

 that allowed more men to strengthen the sides. I 

 was taking no chances of escape. I had two head- 

 men get up on the elephant I had come on, and told 

 the driver to back a short distance, as I wanted the 

 headmen to shoot off their guns from the elephant's 

 back, in order to watch the effect on the elephant. 

 I told them to each fire his gun off on opposite 

 sides but not at the same instant. Well, he never 

 moved, and when those muzzle-loading flintlocks 

 go off they certainly kick and make a startling noise. 

 After that test I was satisfied to take the chance 

 and told the Tungku that AH and myself were going 

 in after the tiger, and that he and his two headmen 

 must keep a sharp lookout from the platform and 

 have their guns trained on the opening. The ma- 

 hout was a plucky fellow and felt very proud, assur- 

 ing me he could handle his elephant. 



I passed the word for all the men to be on the look- 

 out and allow the fire on the right side to die out, to 

 keep together, and those of the headmen who had 

 guns should shoot if the tiger tried to break through. 

 As soon as the fires had died down, I told the driver 

 to go ahead and keep to the right side. "When on an 

 elephant in fair ground, the object should be to get 

 the tiger to charge instead of letting him sneak 

 away, for the hunt is then ended in a short and 

 exciting encounter, but if once let away it may be 

 hours before he is found again, if he ever is at all. 



