Told by the Doctor. 



charms the heart when a big salmon takes one's 'Jock 

 Scott ' with a rush, and one enters on the nervous work of 

 playing him on light grilse tackle. 



" ' Hooked' the tiger was ; but whether I should ever 

 bring him to the ' gaff' was quite another question. 



" After the exciting flurry that had just taken place, the 

 jungle recovered its wonted calm with extraordinary 

 rapidity; and as the pool at my feet was the only water for 

 some two miles around, I had no lack of company to interest 

 me so long as light lasted. Birds of all descriptions, jackals, 

 flights on flights of the painted sandgrouse dropping sxviftly 

 over the trees on to the moist cool sand, and, after drinking, 

 rising again as suddenly with their clucking call ; and then 

 a large company of that marvellously wary bird, the pea- 

 fowl, followed by a timid, hesitating herd of spotted deer. 

 As night fell all these gradually departed, and, 

 after the loud cries exchanged across the valley by the 

 roosting peacocks, a silence descended that could be felt. 



" Later on a breeze sprang up, and, while carrying the 

 human taint well 'away in the right direction, served to 

 drown any suspicious sounds which might scare away a 

 shy animal. You know the extraordinary way machdns 

 will creak in a dead calm ! 



" The waning moon was not due till about n p.m., so 

 I produced my spoon, and untied my frugal meal of potato- 

 pie which my servant had provided, after which a draught 

 from the water chdgal prepared me for a long vigil. 



" It was an extremely dark night, for heavy lowering 

 clouds in dense masses blotted out the stars, and gave me 

 many a foreboding as regards having a clear moon later on. 

 I settled my back against a branch, and gave myself up to 

 reflection. I wondered how the tiger was getting along, 

 and if he'd drink soon or late ; or perhaps he might pay more 



