vi THE TIGER 117 



The tiger (a fine male) suddenly stopped, and turned three-parts 

 round, apparently amazed at the gesticulations of the elephant ; 

 and there the beast stood, exposing the shoulder to a most certain 

 shot if the elephant would have kept decently quiet for only two 

 seconds. The fact of the tiger having halted, and remaining in 

 view within 20 yards, only aggravated the terror of Sutclmimia, 

 and she commenced shaking her colossal body like a dog that has 

 just emerged from water. It was as much as we could do to hold 

 on with both hands to the howdah rails ; my watch was smashed, 

 the cartridges in my belt were bent and doubled up against the 

 pressure of the front rail and rendered useless, while the mahout was 

 punching the head of his refractory animal with the iron spike, and 

 the tiger was staring with astonishment at the display upon our side. 



This picture of helplessness did not last long ; the tiger dis- 

 appeared in the dense covert, and left me to vent my stock of rage 

 upon the panic-stricken elephant. Twice I had endeavoured to 

 raise my rifle, and I had been thrown violently against the howdah 

 rail, which had fortunately withstood the shock. The tiger had 

 broken back, therefore it was necessary to repeat the beat. I was 

 of opinion that it would be advisable to take the elephants out of 

 the tamarisk jungle, and to march them along the open ground, so 

 as to re-enter exactly in the same place and in the same order as 

 before. There could be no doubt that the tiger would hold to the 

 thick covert until fairly driven out, and it would probably break 

 upon the second beat where the guns were protecting the end and 

 both sides of the hollow. 



The elephants were this time intensely excited, as they knew as 

 well as we did that the game was actually before them. I ordered 

 them to keep within a yard of each other, to make it impossible 

 for the tiger to slink back by penetrating the line. Several times 

 as we advanced in this close order the animal was evidently within 

 a few feet of us, as certain elephants endeavoured to turn back, 

 while others desired to dash forward upon the unseen danger, 

 which all keenly smelt. At last, when several elephants trumpeted 

 and made a sudden rush, a shot was fired from the gun upon the 

 left flank, stationed upon the open ground slightly above the 

 hollow. The line halted for an explanation, and it appeared that 

 the Rajah had fired, as the tiger for an instant showed itself upon 

 the edge of the tamarisk jungle. 



We now continued the advance ; the tiger had not spoken to 

 the shot, therefore we considered that it was without effect, and I 

 felt sure that in such compact order we should either trample upon 

 it or push it out at the extremity of the covert. 



