PERSEVERANCE REWARDED 



branches of a tree nearest to the spot, and here the sports- 

 man took up his position at sun-down on the chance of 

 the tiger returning to finish what was left of his previous 

 night's dinner. This plan was almost invariably adopted, 



and most frequently by P , the officer in question, who 



being a keen and fearless sportsman, thought little of the 

 risks from fevers or the discomfort, not to say danger, 

 necessarily attendant on these night-long vigils. 



lie had pursued these tactics for some weeks, but so 

 far had not been fortunate either his " baits " broke away 

 and wandered home, or were killed during the dark phases 

 of the moon. He watched over some of these " kills " and 

 lired a shot or two in the direction in which the tiger could 

 be heard at his meal, but whether he hit or missed he could 

 not tell, at any rate the morning light never revealed 

 anything dead, except the remains of the unfortunate 

 " kill." 



However, perseverance at last was apparently about 

 to be rewarded, for one bright afternoon, at a time when 

 the moon was at her best, the " shikari," who had been to 

 visit the " baits," reported that a bullock, tied in the bed 

 of a dry river in the heart of the forest, had been killed, 

 apparently by a large tiger, as the body had been dragged 

 a considerable distance into a comparatively open patch of 

 jungle, close to which was a suitable tree for a platform, 

 the upper branches commanding a full view of the carcass. 

 The "shikari" added that he had already constructed the 

 " machan," or platform, and suggested that as evening 



was approaching the sahib had better start at once. P , 



as may be supposed, was not likely to make any un- 

 necessary delay, but as the distance was about five miles 

 and it was likely to be late before he could reach the spot, 

 he obtained permission from his commanding officer to 

 take one of the regimental elephants, a steady old female, 

 on which, with his 12 -bore rifle and a couple of rugs with 

 the shikari behind him, he was soon en route. 



When he arrived at the " kill " it was getting dark, but 

 still there was sufficient light to clamber into the tree, 

 which he did off the elephant's back and with the assistance 

 of the " shikari." He noticed as he got up that the tree was 

 rather a slender one. However, as he found his platform 



it 97 



