vi THE TIGER 141 



to clear a space around his late antagonist. In doing this his 

 trunk several times touched the skin of the tiger, which he 

 appeared to regard with supreme indifference. 



I gave two loud whistles with my fingers as a signal that all 

 was over, and we were still occupied in clearing away the smaller 

 growth of jungle, when a native approached as though very drunk, 

 reeling to and fro, and at length falling to the ground close to the 

 elephant's heels ; the man was covered with blood, and he had 

 evidently fainted. I had an excellent Madras servant named 

 Thomas, who was behind me in the howdah, and he lost no time 

 in descending from the elephant and in pouring water over the 

 unfortunate coolie, from a jar which I handed from beneath the 

 seat. In a few moments the man showed signs of life, and the 

 beaters began to collect around the spot. Two men were ap- 

 proaching supporting a limp and half -collapsed figure between 

 them, completely deluged with blood ; this was a second victim of 

 the tiger's attack. Both men were now laid upon the ground, 

 and water poured over their faces and chests ; but during this 

 humane operation another party was observed, carrying in their 

 arms the body of a third person, which was hardly to be recognised 

 through the mass of blood coagulated and mixed with dead leaves 

 and sand, as the tiger had dragged and torn its victim along the 

 ground with remorseless fury. This was a sad calamity. There 

 could be little doubt that when we heard the roars of the 

 infuriated beast it was attacking the line of beaters, and knocking 

 them over right and left before they had time to ascend the 

 trees. The village was only a mile distant, and we immediately 

 sent for three charpoys (native bedsteads) as stretchers to convey 

 the wounded men. Demoiselle arrived with Mr. Berry, who came 

 into my howdah, while the tiger was with some difficulty secured 

 upon the pad of that exceedingly docile elephant. In this form 

 we entered the village as a melancholy procession ; the news 

 having spread, all the women turned out to meet us, weeping and 

 wailing in loud distress, and the scene was so touching that I 

 began to reflect that tiger-shooting might be fun to some, but 

 death to others, who, poor fellows, had to advance unarmed 

 through dangerous jungle. 



The reason for this savage attack was soon discovered. As a 

 rule, there is little danger to a line of beaters provided the tiger 

 is unwounded, and no person should ever place his men in the 

 position to drive a jungle when a wounded tiger is in retreat. In 

 such a case, if no elephants are present, it would be necessary to 

 obtain the assistance of buffaloes ; a herd of these animals driven 



