182 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



One of the crows now leaves his perch, and flies farther 

 up the deep-cut offshoot, curving up to and settling on a 

 convenient bough. Then down go his head and tail, and 

 "Caw!" comes his voice. No need for human speech, 

 friend corvus. Well do we know what you would say ! 



No hunter has been here before us this year, so perhaps 

 the slayer of our buffalo is unsophisticated enough to be 

 lying up near his " kill." 



We retire behind our sheltering corner and think it out. 

 Shall we go back to camp, and arrange for a regular beat, 

 with sufficient men to ensure the successful driving out of 

 the tiger? Or are we justified in making the most of the 

 opportunity as it presents itself? Two of our own men 

 and three villagers accompany us only five beaters in all. 

 But no " stops " are required here. 



At last we settle that a quiet little beat is advisable. It 

 will not disturb the tiger if he has moved on elsewhere. 

 My orderly has a watch. It is compared with ours ; and 

 careful plans are explained to him. At a fixed moment 

 allowing a generous margin of time for unforeseen con- 

 tingencies he is to extend his men on both banks of the 

 cul-de-sac, up which they are to walk slowly, quietly talking, 

 and chopping a tree at intervals. 



The old fellow reflectively wags his head, to imply ap- 

 proval. It is not the first time he has played this game. 



We leave the men and retrace our steps for some distance. 

 Then we climb the bank, and, making a detour in the dry 

 grass, in due time approach cautiously that tree that we 

 marked ere setting out. Every step must be considered 

 now, for if the tiger is where we hope he is, he will not yet 

 have settled for a siesta, and is sure to take alarm at the 

 least suspicious sound. Slowly, gently then, through the 

 tinder-dry leaves. 



There is no proper tree to roost in here. Even if there 

 was, it would be inadvisable to climb into it, for the deep 

 hollow to which that crow called our attention is not much 



