TIGERLAND 



was a leopard which, with its forefeet planted firmly on 

 the ground, was dragging savagely at the " kill " which 

 it held between its jaws. 



It was a ludicrous position, but withal a very dangerous 

 one, since leopards can climb trees as easily as cats, and 

 the doctor, quick to realize the danger, took immediate 

 action. Keeping his left hand on the rope, he picked up 

 the rifle with his right, and, cocking it in silence, whistled 

 loudly. The leopard dropped the " kill " at once, and, 

 with head upraised, stood listening, evidently trying to 

 locate the sound. 



The next moment two reports, in quick succession, 

 broke the stillness of the night, and with one loud, gurgling 

 roar of agony and rage, the stricken beast sprang towards 

 the flash. The impetus of its rush, took it close up to the tree, 

 but only to die beneath it, for the two explosive bullets had 

 done their deadly work, and the doctor's little scheme had 

 ended in success. 



But, as may be imagined, the hunting of such dangerous 

 game by night, although a most fascinating pursuit, is 

 often a very perilous amusement, more especially if the 

 hunter is not provided with an elephant to take him home 

 through the jungle, should he wish to leave his post before 

 daylight. 



A young planter friend of mine, for example, had a 



perilous experience. G , the individual in question, 



being employed on a tea garden in a remote corner of 

 the district, surrounded by dense jungle, had more or less 

 of necessity taken to big game shooting, and in the two 

 years he had been there, had shot almost every kind 

 of animal in these jungles with the exception of a tiger. 

 His failure to obtain the last, however, was not due to 

 any want of trying. On the contrary, he had tied up old 

 bullocks by the score, and had sat up for many a weary 

 hour over such as had been killed. But it had all proved 

 labour lost, for a tiger never came or, if it did, always 

 after he had left. 



At length, having expended half the ancient cattle in 

 the neighbourhood as well as most of his stock of patience, 

 he resolved to try once more, and if this failed, to give up 

 the attempt. 

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