TIGERLAND 



The first time that I heard him was about twelve 

 o'clock one night when all the servants were asleep, and 

 the bungalow, and everything around it, as silent as the 

 tomb. Tired with a long day's work, I had been sleeping 

 soundly for some time when I was aroused by the most 

 awful, blood-curdling sounds I had ever heard a sound 

 beyond my ability to describe, and one which I can only 

 liken to that produced by a person sawing wood. 



I started up in bed and sat listening for a while, and 

 wondering why the carpenters should be working at that 

 hour of the night. But the noise growing louder every 

 moment, and seeming to come nearer, I realized it 

 emanated from some animal, and called loudly to my 

 " boy." 



He too had evidently heard it, for emerging from his 

 " den," in the back verandah, he came running in imme- 

 diately, and rushing to the door, which I had left open, 

 shut and bolted it at once. 



" Master get it gun quick ! " he cried excitedly. " That 

 one. Panter wanting master's dog." And running into 

 the next room, bolted that door too. 



It was fortunate he did so, for my terrier, a plucky and 

 aggressive little beast, was now barking furiously, and in 

 another moment would probably have rushed out into the 

 darkness. 



In the meantime the panther was apparently prowling 

 round the bungalow, seemingly close up against the wall, 

 which being of matting only, we could hear him as dis- 

 tinctly as if he was actually within the house. I went up 

 to the window with my gun, but the night was so intensely 

 dark that I found it impossible to locate him, and was 

 afraid to fire till I could do so, as there were servants' huts 

 all round. Finally, he departed, grunting as he went off 

 with rage and disappointment. 



The next night he visited us again, and for the whole of 

 this week, at intervals of a day or two, he came prowling 

 round the bungalow till I came to regard him as a part of 

 my existence ; but, unfortunately, grew careless about my 

 dog. 



Meanwhile, acting on the advice of my " factotum," in 

 other words, " the boy " who, by the way, was a " youth " 

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