344 THE MEET. 



himself greatly, and not without cause, on his skill in getting opposing 

 factions among the sporting villagers with whom we became acquainted to 

 coalesce in his master's interests ; and he was at the same time a great 

 favourite amongst them for his never-failing vivacity and pleasant com- 

 pany. 



An early day for the hunt having been appointed, the combined 

 forces of Eamanhully and Chuttra collected the evening before near the 

 latter village, but they encamped outside it. It is a gi'eat point to get 

 beaters, if intended to work early, away from their houses, to obviate the 

 difficulty always experienced in collecting them early. As there was a fair 

 road from my camp to Chuttra I drove over in my across-country pony- 

 trap at sunrise. The various markers were at once despatched in couples 

 to take up their allotted stations, whilst the beaters w^aited until the sun 

 was well up, to allow the panther time to return to his stronghold in case 

 he had been to a distance for his night's prowl. Before commencing, the 

 nets were set up some distance from the cover in the open, and I took 

 post on the edge of the thicket where a path entered it, and by which 

 we expected the panther to appear. The hunters ascertained that he had 

 entered the cover before daybreak, and some one said a large boar, of which 

 there were a few about, had also retired to it for the day ; but I paid little 

 heed to this latter piece of news at the time, in the all-absorbing attention 

 regarding the particular beast we were after. I was, however, speedily to 

 be reminded of the boar's presence. 



The beat commenced, and I soon heard a heavy animal making its way 

 stealthily but rapidly towards me. I thought of nothing but the panther, 

 when I was suddenly confronted by the boar, a huge grey old fellow, 

 who pulled up almost at the muzzle of my rifle as I levelled it at him. 

 I had no time for hesitation. I was directly in his path, and only a few 

 yards distant. I should probably have been cut down in another instant 

 in the style in which a boar can do this to any one opposing him, so 

 I fired at his long narrow forehead and dropped him dead. Some men 

 who were stationed not far off ran up and dragged the boar out of the way, 

 and one of them was sent to inform the beaters, who had ceased driving at 

 the firing. Tliis occurrence was unfortunate, as the disturbance ahead nnist 

 have alarmed the panther, for a beater shortly came to say he was in a 

 tliicket but would not move. Tlie messenger assured me that I coukl 

 shoot liim as he lay without more ado, and that the headmen wore anxious 

 for me to come at once. The chance was a tempting one, but still it was 

 decidedly against my better judgment that I left my i)ost and went to tlie 

 place, where the headman of lUmanhully, with only a spear in his hand, 



