154 WILD BEASTS AND TIIEIK WAYS CIIAP. 



declared that the tiger had taken him by surprise, as it had 

 appeared while the beaters were so far distant that he could only 

 just distinguish their voices. I came to the conclusion that this 

 was the reason which explained the general escape of this wary 

 animal, as it moved forward directly that the line of beaters 

 entered the jungle, instead of advancing in the usual manner 

 almost at the end of the beat. The sudden apparition of the tiger 

 before it was expected would probably startle the gunner, who by 

 firing in a hurry would in many instances entail a miss. Having 

 well considered the matter, I determined to make myself more 

 comfortable on the morrow, by padding the mucharn with the 

 quilted pad of the riding elephant, and by sitting astride a tightly 

 bound bundle of mats. 



I would not allow any person to visit the carcase on the follow- 

 ing morning, as I accepted the natives' assurance that the tiger 

 would return to its kill ; I gave orders that all beaters were to be 

 in readiness, and we were to start together. 



The morning arrived, and we started with a large force of 

 nearly 200 men. 



Upon approaching the spot where the carcase of the bufl'alo 

 was left, I dismounted, and with only one man, I carefully inspected 

 the position. The body had been dragged away. That was 

 sufficient evidence, and I would not risk a disturbance of the 

 jungle by advancing farther upon the tracks. 



In order to maintain the most perfect silence, the beaters were 

 kept at a considerable distance, and the line was to be formed only 

 when a messenger should be sent back to say that the guns were 

 already in position. 



The native shikaris now assured me in the most positive 

 manner that the tiger would certainly advance along the nullah, 

 and would pass immediately beneath the tree upon which my 

 mucharn of yesterday was placed. 



Upon arrival at the tree I arranged the quilted pad and bundle 

 of rugs in the mucharn, and having instructed my men to clear 

 away a few overhanging creepers that in some places intercepted 

 the line of sight along the nullah, I took my place, having care- 

 fully screened myself by intertwining a few green boughs to the 

 height of 2 feet around my hiding-place. 



I was comparatively in luxury upon the quilted mattress, and I 

 waited with exemplary patience for the commencement of the beat 

 in solitary quiet. A long time elapsed, as our messenger had to 

 return about a mile before the line should receive orders to 

 advance. 



