TIGERLAND 



noted their positions, returned to marshal the line, leaving 

 the sportsmen to complete their final preparations, such as 

 placing rifles and cartridges handy, cutting down twigs and 

 branches that might be in their way, etc., and to while away 

 the weary hour or so that must pass before the beat would 

 begin as best they might. 



Time, as is usual on such occasions, dragged wearily on. 

 At last the welcome sound made by the elephants crashing 

 through the heavy cover was heard in the distance, and 

 presently a low prolonged rumbling, resembling the 

 approach of an earthquake, came from the right of the 

 advancing line an indication that some of the elephants 

 had already scented the tiger ; and a few minutes later a 

 loud coughing roar, followed by a general squealing, trum- 

 peting, and commotion all along the line, told that he was 

 afoot. 



The excitement was now intense, and what with the 

 noise made by the elephants, the shouts and yells of their 

 drivers, and the occasional roars from the tiger, the jungle 

 for the time being was a veritable pandemonium. All 

 this time the occupants of the howdahs, as may well be 

 imagined, were on the very tenterhooks of expectation, 

 each eagerly scanning the space within his vision. Soon 

 I, being to the extreme left, observed a quick, sinuous 

 movement in the comparatively light grass fringing the 

 cover in front of me, and shortly the head and shoulders 

 of a large tiger showed for an instant. The next moment, 

 with a roar of rage and defiance at seeing its retreat cut 

 off, he had turned sharp to his left and was galloping down 

 through the grass fronting the howdahs. 



The pace he was travelling at, and the close assimilation 

 of his black and yellow markings to the lights and shades 

 of the surrounding grass, made him anything but an easy 

 target. Nevertheless, I emptied both barrels on him. 

 He held on, however, apparently untouched, receiving a 

 similar salute as he passed the next howdah. But he had 

 still to pass the last one, which, unfortunately for him, was 



occupied by C , the engineer, the safest shot of the party, 



who, taking advantage of a small bit of open about 90 yards 

 in front, which the tiger was bound to cross, waited till he 

 had reached it ; then, aiming a full length in front, fired, 

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