170 SHIKAR SKETCHES. 



than our gallant neighbours across the Channel ! 



Tigers are very fond of a bath, and Hebbert 

 (the friend before referred to) on two occasions 

 shot them in the water. The first we were pre- 

 paring to beat for ; I had been posted, and Hebbert 

 was going to his post, when he suddenly came on 

 the tiger rolling about and splashing himself in a 

 pool of water close to the ' kill,' and as the brute 

 sat up in the shallow pool for a moment, gazing 

 at the intruder, he shot him. 



I shall never forget disturbing a nest of red 

 ants on this occasion. I had been posted in a tree 

 and Hebbert had just left me. First I felt a slight 

 itching at the back of my neck, then as if a hot 

 needle had been driven in ; at last the irritation 

 became so intense that I put my hand up and 

 then discovered that my head, hair, and beard were 

 covered with red ants. No philosophy could stand 

 this ; so flinging down my rifle, I jumped out of the 

 tree, and rushed to the river, just as I heard the 

 report of Hebbert's rifle, and heard his triumphant 

 whoo-whoop announcing the tiger's death. 



On the other occasion, Hebbert had been out 

 after spotted deer, and returning home along 

 the bank of a stream saw a tiger indulging in his 

 ablutions. The tiger on seeing him swam away 

 across the river, when^Hebbert fired at, and knock- 

 ed him over, the body turning feet uppermost, and 



