T 92 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



And yet (Allah witnesseth !), what can do ! The animal 

 will go to your honour! Yet if the Chota Sahib will this 

 time take this post " indicating what was in this parti- 

 cular beat undoubtedly the only route for a driven tiger 

 " perchance his luck may turn. " 



Some time after the subaltern had occupied his perch and 

 heard the head shikari move off, he was startled by a low 

 whistle from the jungle behind him ; and behold ! his host, 

 finger on lip and twinkle in eye, making signals to him to 

 descend. 



" Just exchange positions with me, my dear fellow," he 

 heard him say, " and mind you go quietly, for the old 

 man has left a * stop ' in a tree not far away ! " 



The change was duly effected ; and this time all went as 

 it should except indeed for Daghabaz Khan. 



The beaters approached. The tiger appeared. But, 

 strange to relate, he had failed to take his natural line ; 

 and he halted, as if actuated by clock-work, right under the 

 tree where the Deputy Commissioner should have been 

 but was not 1 



Hardly had the echoes of two rapid shots died away, and 

 been succeeded by the re-assuring note of the sahid's whistle, 

 than Daghabaz Khan was to be seen standing submissively 

 beneath the successful sportman's machdn. 



" Hazur I "he began smugly, " I did my best. But the 

 luck of the Chota Sahib must indeed be evil, for, as your 

 honour sees, the tiger " 



" Don't mention it, Daghabaz Khan! " came from 

 aloft, the confounding accents of the delighted Chota Sahib 

 himself. " Verily art thou the prince of shikaris; and, for 

 this my success to-day, will I bestow on thee a testimonial 

 transcending in its flattering terms all those already in thy 

 possession! " 



