320 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



ful and unknown visitor, the host bethought himself of a 

 stratagem. 



" Now, then, Daghabaz Khan ! " said he to the astute 

 individual who occupied a position analogous to that of 

 head keeper, " this won't do ! The Chota Sahib is not 

 getting any sport. Put him in the best position again, 

 will you, and see that the tiger goes to him this time!" 



" Sahib" replied the Oriental, with a perfectly acted 

 appearance of injured innocence, "have I not been 

 doing so all along, according to your honour's commands ? 

 And yet (Allah witnesseth !), what can I do ! The animal 

 will go to your honour ! Yet if the Chota Sahib will this 

 time take this post" indicating what was in this par- 

 ticular beat undoubtedly the only route for a driven tiger 

 " perchance his luck may turn." 



Some time after the subaltern had occupied his perch 

 and heard the head shikari move off, he was startled by a 

 low whistle from the jungle behind him ; and beheld his 

 host, finger on lip and twinkle in eye, making signals to 

 him to descend. 



"Just exchange positions with me, my dear fellow," he 

 heard him say, " and mind you go quietly, for the old man 

 has left a ' stop ' in a tree not far away." 



The change was duly effected, and this time all went 

 as it should except, indeed, for Daghabaz Khan. 



The beaters approached. The tiger appeared. But, 

 strange to relate, he had failed to take his natural line ; 

 and he halted, as if actuated by clock-work, right under 

 the tree where the Deputy-Commissioner should have 

 been but was not ! 



Hardly had the echoes of two rapid shots died away, 

 and been succeeded by the reassuring note of the 

 sahib's whistle, than Daghabaz Khan was to be seen 

 standing submissively beneath the successful sportsman's 

 machdn. 



" Haztir" he began smugly, " I did my best. But the 



