THE BIOGRAPHY OF A TIGER 25 



On an Indian night sounds fall from afar. For long 

 had a most remotely faint rustling been heard beyond 

 the precipitous grass-clothed bank above that pool of the 

 deep-hidden Khari; but not until many more long minutes 

 had passed did the crackle of undergrowth and brushing 

 aside of the harsh grass grow slightly sharper and clearer. 

 Then it stopped. Anon some crumbling earth and loose 

 stones slid rolling down the side of the little gorge. 



Long after this the grass rustled gently again. Some- 

 thing was apparently moving about stealthily, undecided 

 whether to advance. 



The moon had passed across the sky, until the slope 

 of the bank itself lay in sable shadow, but the luminous 

 line of grass fringing its crest was clearly defined. Very 

 slowly some large dark objects came up from behind it, 

 loomed against the moonlit sky-line, stood motionless for 

 a long time ; then descended, and approached in the 

 dark. Extremely faint noises were heard, as if something 

 was coming down the steep bank towards the water- 

 hole below; a leaf cracked once or twice. Whatever 

 the creatures were, they were approaching with infinite 

 caution and the wariest of steps. 



But they came on slowly. And in lapse of time a hesi- 

 tating footfall sounded on the pebbly bed of the Khari. 



Beyond the little pool the dry ravine swept round out 

 of the shadow of the big mango trees, and here its stony 

 course shone white with saline incrustations in the bright 

 rays of the moon. And it was against this luminous back- 

 ground that something showed black as it moved warily 

 round the water's edge. There came slowly into view the 

 lean muzzle and big alert ears of the sentinel hind ! 



There was a soft squelching in the dark, and a sucking 

 noise, as the other deer stood about in the mire round the 

 pool, and lowered their grateful noses to the cool liquid 

 at their feet. Small sounds, as of drinking, of drippings 

 from wet muzzles, came at intervals; but for the most 



