A FALSE ALARM 



We fired several shots into the jungle, till at last one 

 seemed to take effect, for suddenly the beast stopped 

 roaring ; its struggles, too, gradually grew feebler, and then, 

 with one loud, long-drawn moan, all sound and movement 

 ceased. 



We felt sure the beast was dead ; but were not disposed 

 to verify the fact by closer observation at that hour of 

 the night. So, after firing another shot or two, without 

 eliciting any reply, we turned in, anxious to obtain a few 

 hours' sleep. 



Morning was well advanced when we awoke, and our 

 courage returning with the day, we determined to investi- 

 gate the jungle. We were in the act of descending for this 

 purpose, when Dhundhos, who was already half-way down, 

 stopped suddenly and, listening for awhile, signed to us to go 

 back. 



" The elephants are returning, sahib," he said, as he 

 rejoined us ; and presently we heard, in the far distance, 

 the sounds of some large animals approaching. 



Nearer and nearer they came till they had almost 

 reached the spot, where we thought the tiger lay, when 

 suddenly they halted, and the next moment, with loud 

 trumpetings and squeals, went dashing headlong through 

 the forest in the opposite direction. 



But above the uproar they created, we had distinguished 

 the sound of human voices, and recognized them as those of 

 our mahouts ! It was our own elephants then which 

 Dhundhos had mistaken for wild ones, and we concluded 

 they must have come suddenly on the body of the tiger. 

 But the question now arose as to whether their mahouts 

 would be able to induce them to return ? However, after 

 much shouting and abusive language they succeeded, and 

 as the animals seemed now to have recovered from their 

 panic, we mounted one of them, and with Dhundhos on 

 the other, advanced cautiously into the jungle. 



But we had hardly entered it when they again exhibited 

 symptoms of uneasiness. However, patted and encouraged 

 by their drivers, they moved slowly forward, pushing 

 the jungle carefully with their trunks at every step they 

 took. 



Proceeding in this manner for another twenty yards, 



67 



