TIGERLAND 



above, and looking up saw the coolies, whom we had told 

 to come along the ridge, pointing excitedly to a spot a 

 little to our front. 



We guessed at once that it was the tigress they had 

 viewed, and signing to them to keep quiet, continued to 

 advance, but with greater caution. 



There was not much jungle left now, and a minute or 

 two more would find us at the end of it possibly face to 

 face with the tigress, and now that I realized this possi- 

 bility my anxiety to meet her diminished with every step 

 we took. 



I stole a glance at the " shikari," but his countenance 

 betrayed no signs of agitation, though I could see that eyes 

 and ears alike were both on the alert. Encouraged by his 

 demeanour and the feeling that I could rely upon his aid, 

 I pulled myself together and, holding my breath, covered 

 the next few yards which still lay between us and the corner 

 of the jungle. 



The next moment we had reached the bend and then, 

 while still concealed behind a bush, beheld a sight which 

 many an older sportsman than myself has probably never 

 seen. For there, scarce twenty paces from me, and well out 

 in the open, was the tigress ! Half -reclined upon her side, 

 she seemed to be watching her cubs at play, as they rolled 

 over one another in their rough-and-tumble game. She 

 was lying with her head turned away from us, and the wind, 

 fortunately, blowing in our direction, there was little risk 

 of our presence being discovered. 



I was so fascinated at the sight that I stood gazing at 

 her quite lost in admiration, till the " shikari," touching 

 me on the arm, recalled me to myself. At this moment 

 a slight noise made by one of the coolies attracted the 

 attention of the tigress, and starting suddenly to her 

 feet, she stood looking back into the jungle. The cubs, 

 too, with an instinct almost incredible in animals of 

 that age, seemed to know there was danger near at hand, 

 and running to their mother, crouched down at her feet ; 

 the three making as interesting a picture as the eye could 

 wish to dwell on. 



But our position was too critical to permit of our 

 enjoying this rare spectacle, for now that her suspicions 

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