THE TIGER AND THE LEOPARD 



absolute insignificance as compared with the grand, awe- 

 inspiring appearance of a tiger. 



The incident I refer to happened in this wise. I was 

 on this occasion beating for a tiger and had taken up my 

 position on a tree. Presently, as the beaters approached, 

 a panther came out of the jungle and stood under my tree, 

 but I was not to be tempted. Shortly afterwards the tiger, 

 being also roused by the noise of the beaters, came along 

 by the path taken by the other, and though it must have 

 seen it, seemed to take no notice of the panther. 



On the latter, however, the meeting had an immediate, 

 and seemingly, most disquieting effect, for no sooner had 

 it become aware of the tiger's presence, than down it 

 crouched, and putting its tail between its legs as a cat 

 might do when confronted by a mastiff slunk off into the 

 jungle, evidently in terror of its life and anxious to escape 

 from its perilous position. 



And yet it seemed almost incredible that a panther, of 

 all wild animals the most daring and ferocious, should be 

 so easily cowed, and by a beast, which even though its 

 superior in size, is no match for it in courage or ferocity, 

 but apparently the tiger's terrifying appearance had 

 paralyzed these faculties for the moment. 



At the same time it must not be imagined that of all 

 the larger animals which infest the Indian jungles, the 

 panther stands alone in this respect, for with the exception 

 of the wild boar perhaps, there is probably no animal, from 

 the mighty elephant downwards, which would not rather 

 avoid a tiger than meet one face to face. 



However, be this as it may, it was an interesting sight 

 to have witnessed this meeting of these two beasts, for 

 it is seldom that a sportsman has the luck to see any other 

 animal than the one he is pursuing, and not always does 

 he succeed in viewing even that ; yet it is just these unknown 

 possibilities which lend to Indian shooting the fascination 

 it possesses for the sportsman. 



For example, I remember strolling out from camp one 

 Sunday evening with a couple of Bhil, and my 10-bore 

 Paradox gun, to pick up, if possible, a pea-fowl for the 

 pot. 



Entering a dense bit of ground with a jungle path down 



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