TIGERLAND 



A month or two again elapsed, and, but for an occasional 

 vague rumour, there had been no evidence of any tigers in 

 the neighbourhood, when one day the " muduvan " 

 (shikari), wandering around the jungles, came suddenly 

 upon the pugs of three evidently those of a tigress and 

 two seemingly full-grown cubs. 



This time G decided on building a " machan " 



(platform), which was accordingly erected on a strip of 

 grass land bordered on each side by heavy jungle, and 

 old bullocks now being scarce a cow was requisitioned and 

 tethered by a piece of wire, about twenty yards from the 

 machan. 



Early next morning the shikari, going to see how the 

 cow had fared, found her lying dead and partly eaten, and, 

 on mounting the " machan " to make sure it was secure, saw 

 to his amazement the tigress and her cubs playing in the 

 open, about a quarter of a mile away. He descended a 

 good deal quicker than he had gone up, and, returning to 

 his master, reported what he had seen, adding with a 

 native's talent for embroidery, a good deal that he hadn't 

 as to the size and ferocious appearance of the animals, 

 etc., etc. 



G 's delight at hearing this good news may be 



easily imagined, and, disposing of his work as quickly as 

 he could, he returned with the " shikari." Arriving on the 

 spot about two in the afternoon, they found the " kill " still 

 there, but the tigers had evidently come back after the 

 shikari left, for more of it had been eaten. 



This was not encouraging, as they might not now 



return to it till late into the night. However, G , too 



keen to be easily put off, mounted the machan, and telling 

 the " shikari" to wait outside the jungle, resolved to watch 

 as long as there was light. 



It was another weary vigil, varied on this occasion by 

 frequent showers of rain, which soaked him to the skin ; 

 yet, with dogged perseverance, he sat on, shivering, but still 

 hopeful. At last he thought he was about to be rewarded, as 

 suddenly, above the noisy patter of the rain now descend- 

 ing in a deluge he heard one of the tigers calling in the 

 jungle on his right. The sounds continuing for some time, 

 gradually drew nearer, then ceased as suddenly as they 

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