vi THE TIGER 139 



with instructions to march directly that we should send them the 

 necessary orders. I begged them upon this occasion not to shout, 

 but merely to tap the trees with their sticks as their line came 

 forward. 



We proceeded about a quarter of a mile ahead, and then turned 

 into the jungle on our left. Continuing for at least 300 yards, 

 we arrived at some open ground much broken by shallow nullahs, 

 which formed natural drains in a slight depression of grassy land 

 between very low hills of jungle, through which we had recently 

 passed. There was a small nullah issuing from the forest, in 

 which I placed my elephant, and I begged my friend Berry to ride 

 Demoiselle to a similar place about 200 yards upon my right. I 

 concluded that should the tiger be between us and the line of 

 beaters, he would in all probability steal along one or the other of 

 these nullahs before he could cross the open ground. We now 

 sent back one of the natives with orders for the line of beaters to 

 advance. Mr. Berry left upon Demoiselle to take up his position, 

 while I pushed Moolah Bux well into the jungle in the centre of 

 the small nullah, which commanded a clear view of about 20 

 yards around. 



In a short time we heard the clacking sound of many sticks, 

 the beaters having obeyed the injunction, and keeping profound 

 silence with their voices. 



There were no animals in this jungle, probably they had been 

 frightened by the great noise of the beaters when shouting in the 

 recent drive ; at any rate, the beat was barren, and having waited 

 fruitlessly until I could see the men approaching within a few 

 yards of my position, I ordered the elephant to turn round, with 

 the intention of proceeding another quarter of a mile in advance, 

 and thus continuing to beat the jungle in sections until it should 

 be thoroughly driven out. 



I had hardly turned the elephant, when we were startled by 

 tremendous roars of a tiger, continued in quick succession within 

 50 yards of the position that I occupied. I never heard either 

 before or since such a volume of sound proceeding from a single 

 animal ; there was a horrible significance in the grating and angry 

 voice that betokened the extreme fury of attack. Not an instant 

 was lost ! The mahout was an excellent man, as cool as a 

 cucumber, and never over-excited. He obeyed the order to 

 advance straight towards the spot, in which the angry roars still 

 continued without intermission. 



Moolah Bux was a thoroughly dependable elephant, but 

 although moving forward with a majestic and determined step, 



