10 HOW I KILLED THE TIGER. 



then spied the natives coming towards me, and 

 sung out to the foremost to get me a drink of 

 water (Plate 14). By the time the water was 

 brought, my friend and most of the natives were 

 staring at me as if I was a stuck pig. I confess I 

 was bleeding like one. After a long pull at the water, 

 I considered my position, and came to the con- 

 clusion that the sooner I made tracks and got to my 

 bungalow, which was more than two miles off, the 

 better fcr me (Plate 15). I gave my friend 

 instructions about bringing in the tiger, then fisted 

 my arm, and started to walk home, with about 

 half a dozen natives accompanying me. The 

 ground was extremely rough, but I managed to 

 do the distance, and was able to ford the river 

 without any assistance. Arrived at my bungalow 

 I had my upper garments, which were pretty 

 well in shreds, torn off. My servants then set 

 to work swabbing up the blood and bathing my 

 wounds. When I had lighted a pipe and taken 

 a survey of my condition, I felt pretty sure that I 

 was in for a month's lay up. I had the satisfac- 

 tion of knowing that I had rid the community of 

 a dangerous pest. The tiger in India is looked 

 upon as a common enemy. All classes are in 

 mortal dread of him. He is in no way particular 

 and makes no distinction between castes, though 

 if he had his choice he would probably prefer a 



