184 SHIKAR SKETCHES. 



was opposite to the one where the small nullah 

 debouched, and then turned and came down the 

 opposite bank, intending to investigate the 

 smaller nullah. We had got to the point of junc- 

 tion, and the elephant was standing close to the 

 edge of the bank, whilst from our elevated posi- 

 tion we were peering down into the nullah. 

 Suddenly the elephant gave a loud c phrew ' (that 

 well-known sign of alarm), and rapped the ground 

 sharply with his trunk, drawing back slightly at 

 the same time. The next instant we heard the deep 

 roaring grunt of a charging tiger, saw a brindled 

 mass of fur appear over the edge of the nullah, 

 and the next moment the enraged tiger was on 

 the elephant's head. 



Such a scuffle as then ensued defies description 

 from ray poor pen. We dared not fire for fear of 

 wounding the elephant, who was screaming with 

 pain and rage, trying to kneel down, whilst the 

 mahout, swearing, and expending all his choicest 

 expletives on all the female relations of both tiger 

 and elephant, was doing his best to retain his 

 seat. Added to the confusion, we had our c tiffin ' 

 basket in the howdah, into which 1 accident- 

 ally put my foot, driven out of my proper posi- 

 tion by the violent shaking, and, slithering amongst 

 edibles, soda-water, etc., I lost my balance, and 

 nearly fell out of the howdah. At last the ele- 



