A SPORTING INSPECTOR OF POLICE 



line, caused I guessed by the tiger having been either 

 viewed or scented, so I made signs as well as I could for 

 the line to be pushed on. The drivers did their best to 

 obey, but, in spite of all their efforts, not an animal would 

 advance and small wonder, for there, barely ten yards 

 in front of them, was the tiger, growling savagely ! 



At last one elephant, less timid than the rest, was 

 induced to move a step or two forward. The next instant 

 there was a savage roar, and every elephant, big and small, 

 rushed helter-skelter back through the jungle, and soon 

 the whole line could be seen careering madly across the 

 open on its way back to the village, the inspector's charge, 

 more nimble than the rest, leading the van ! 



I have seen some comical sights in my life, but never in 

 all my experience one more utterly ludicrous than what 

 was now before me, i.e. the huge jelly-bag figure of the 

 unfortunate official, encased in tight uniform, poised on the 

 highest point of the little animal he bestrode, clutching 

 frantically at anything he could find in his efforts to main- 

 tain his seat, and shouting at the driver to stop, yet betray- 

 ing his anxiety to get on as quickly as possible by digging 

 his heels into what he probably imagined to be the ribs of 

 his pony, forgetful for the moment that he was now mounted 

 on an elephant ! The latter, with his tail in the air and his 

 trunk upraised, bustled along as fast as his sturdy little 

 legs could carry him, squealing with terror. Indeed, 

 elephants and men lent themselves to making up as droll a 

 scene as it is possible to conceive. However, I had little 

 time to enjoy this impromptu burlesque, and soon had 

 graver matters to attend to, for, while still laughing, a 

 loud coughing snort was heard in front, and before I could 

 raise my gun to my shoulder, with a quick rush through 

 the grass the tiger had passed behind me. I turned and 

 fired both barrels into the moving grass, but apparently 

 without result, and ere I could reload he was out of 

 range. 



I now looked again for the elephants, only to find that 

 I could hope for no assistance from them. They were still 

 going, and likely to continue doing so. In despair I con- 

 sulted my driver, and, acting on his advice, having no 

 experience of my own to draw on, decided to go in pursuit 



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