DEER 285 



" Sumf, sumf" (it is really hard to spell), the dead 

 sort of sound of the pugs of a tiger as he goes. 

 Presently through the canes I saw the stripes. Oh ! 

 how I should like to have shot. He was only 50 

 yards off, but with canes between us it was not good 

 enough. I ran on ahead on the top, hoping to get 

 a clearer opening. I found it a short way on, and 

 waited, and listened, and watched. Would he come ? 

 If so I had a clear shot at 50 yards or so, which 

 ought to be good enough. Oh, no, the malign 

 influence supervened ! He splashed through the 

 river below and went up the other bank. Puddoo 

 found my cheetal, a good stag, but I cared for 

 nothing but a tiger then, and a tiger I could not get. 

 The next day I kicked up a tigress with two cubs, 

 but she only offered me a vanishing stern shot, which 

 is much too uncertain unless you have an elephant to 

 follow upon, and to wound a tiger and let it go is 

 wicked, for the next native that stumbles across it is 

 surely killed. I obtained three very good cheetal, 

 all pretty much on the same ground, as the axis deer 

 is very local ; but he is not interesting to hunt ; you 

 chance on to him and get a shot, or you jump him 

 in the jungle or high grass, and he goes off for all he 

 is worth. Well, I had gained what I had wanted, 

 and so determined to return to Mundla after one 

 more try for a tiger, as I saw pugs every day. I 

 had seen nothing in the morning hunt except a few 

 cheetal, which I did not want, and was returning 

 from my evening beat when an event happened 

 which I have never ceased to regret. I was returning 



