i88 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



behind. I was mad with rage and vexation at the contre- 

 temps and this was the last straw. I had heard a delighted 

 " Laga, laga hai " (Hit, he is hit) from the shikari whilst 

 the tiger was on the ground, and I felt sure that the shikari 

 had thought the brute was done for as I had. And one does 

 not want to spoil one's skins with unnecessary bullet-holes. 

 I quickly silenced the shikari, therefore, and proceeded to 

 possess my soul in patience. There was nothing to be done 

 then, anyway. The orders left in camp were that if shots 

 were heard a party of men, after waiting half an hour, should 

 then make straight for the nullah bed which was fairly close 

 to the camp and come straight down it to my position. 

 They were to bring as many lanterns as they could lay 

 hands on. About an hour later the procession hove in view, 

 talking loudly and frightening every living jungle inhabitant 

 within a mile or two. I returned to camp and wrote an 

 urgent and pressing appeal to a neighbouring Raja with 

 whom I had a passing acquaintance and who was a thorough 

 gentleman and first-rate sportsman, asking him to bring out 

 or send out to me one of his elephants to beat up the wounded 

 tiger, if it was not already dead. I had dinner and turned in, 

 passing a hot and restless night. At first dawn I heard a 

 mahout's voice cursing his elephant's clumsiness and I knew 

 that the Raja had turned out trumps. Nor had I had any 

 doubts as to what he would do. I sprang out of bed and 

 was donning my jungle kit in haste when a servant appeared 

 at the door of the tent with a cup of tea and the announce- 

 ment that the Raja Sahib had himself arrived. I was out 

 in a twinkling, profuse in my thanks to such a first-rate 

 sportsman. We hurriedly partook of tea and were off for 

 the scene of last night's episode. Below the tree was found 

 a pool of still wet but half -congealed blood. A couple of 

 patches were found between the tree and the forest in which 

 the tiger had entered. Then our difficulties commenced. 

 We first made a wide circle with the object of picking up any 

 bloodstains should the tiger have travelled far. None were 

 found, however, and the Raja, who was well acquainted 

 with the area, nearly as well acquainted as the shikari, and 

 the latter then held a consultation. It was finally agreed to 

 commence at the spot at which the tiger had entered and 

 work on the line they had mutually agreed as being the 

 probable direction of flight. Slowly the elephant forged 

 ahead through the dense matted jungle and for a time 



