A TIGER-DRIVE. 215 



down the other of a tree-stump, round three sides of 

 a great boulder, over and along surface-roots, under 

 a fallen log the black line twisted and turned. There 

 seemed to be no attempt to shorten or to improve 

 upon the winding path selected by the leaders of 

 the column. The little creatures moved in a line 

 some six or seven deep ; and for some reason which 

 it was difficult to discern, a constant succession of 

 ants kept hurrying back through the ranks to com- 

 municate with the rear. 



Suddenly there was a cry afar off: "Look out! 

 The tiger is here!" How every feeling intensified 

 at the sound ! Not a soul was within sight ; but 

 one knew that the men who were hidden to right 

 and to left had heard the words, and had thrilled 

 to them no less than oneself. The beaters were 

 yet more than half a mile away, but it was not 

 difficult to imagine the excitement that possessed 

 them. Somewhere in the area encompassed by 

 them and by the guns there was moving silently 

 through the dense forest undergrowth the lithe 

 powerful form of a tiger. We all knew it: it even 

 seemed strange that the long string of ants should 

 fail to know it and should continue their unheed- 

 ing ceaseless hurrying. Somewhere near us the 

 tiger was or should be. 



At the shout the men steadied themselves, moving 

 to one side or the other in order to make the line 

 of advance as perfect as possible. There was silence 

 for a moment, and then a great voice shouted, 

 " Selawat ! " (prayer). " Selawat ! " shouted every one ; 

 and thereupon, somewhere in the long line, one of 



