MISSED A TIGER 107 



new ground which I wished to explore. The scenery 

 was noble ; the rising sun having the grandest effect 

 among the cliffs and crags jutting up on all sides. 

 But no game what can be up ? no game to be seen. 

 B. not being up to work, I went off alone to a ridge 

 that looked over some new ground, about a mile more 

 N.E. than we had yet been. The breeze on this 

 ridge was one of the most delightful luxuries I ever 

 experienced. I lay and enjoyed it thoroughly, looking 

 over that grand scenery. A sambur kept belling 

 below, and I heard two bears laughing in the long 

 lemon grass far below me. Nothing appearing, I 

 turned and strolled quietly homewards. Just as I 

 was descending into a dip in the side of the hill, 

 walking on a deer-run, high trees and brushwood 

 being on each side of me as high as my head, I saw a 

 splendid tiger descending into the dip on the far side 

 on the same path as me. It was decidedly an awkward 

 position. The worst of it was, I had not my dear old 

 rifle. Oh ! how I cursed that horrid black buck ibex 

 now. I squatted instantly and hastily arranged my 

 plans. They were as follows : A tree overhung the 

 path about 80 yards from me on the tiger's side of 

 the dip ; I determined to try and brain him as he passed 

 under it. To let him into the thick underwood in the 

 nullah would be madness, as the next time we saw 

 each other it would have been face to face at about 5 

 yards. On came the tiger, and a grand beast he looked 

 as he swaggered along. Slowly he came to the tree, 

 and when he was under it he lingered as if conscious 

 of some danger. Oh for Purdey ! I felt ; had I but 

 the old gun, I should kill him dead. After a little 

 delay on he came again, with his huge head swinging 

 from side to side, with his tail in the air ; away he 

 went crash through the thick matted underwood, as 



