126 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



he the long tail of the tiger of the plains, he would 

 measure as long as any tiger's skin at present in the 

 world ; as it is, he is one of the largest at present in the 

 Madras Presidency. Fancy that, my lady ! killed with 

 one ball on foot, and stalked like any stag ! I am a 

 bit proud of it, as you may easily see. How grand it 

 will look lying out in the bay window in the boudoir, 

 with the huge ,head stuffed. You will be proud of it, I 

 know, and perhaps some day there will be another who 

 will be proud of it too. I could hold forth much longer 

 on his beauty, etc., but must on to another scene, its 

 match I think you will own. 



About three days after, having moved to a more 

 genial camping ground, I strolled out quietly with 

 Francis to kill a hind for meat. It was a soft lovely 

 evening, and I was walking behind Francis, thinking of 

 the tiger, and you all, with your dear faces at home, 

 when Mr. F. stopped, and taking out his glass, began to 

 examine a wild rocky glen, saying as he did so, ' What 

 that black thing got on rock, Sahib ? ' My binoculars 

 were up instantly, and with one accord we both sank 

 into the grass with the one exclamation, f black 

 tiger ! ' Yes, indeed, there, about a mile off, lying on 

 a rock, was that rare and lovely animal I had seen so 

 often in dreamland, the black panther (called by natives 

 * Tiger '). As I thought of the invaluable trophy that 

 lay before us, and that there are only four skins in the 

 world, I felt almost sick with anxiety. This beautiful 

 beast is only found in the Neilgherries and in some of 

 the East Indian Islands, and his skin fetches something 

 miraculous in England. All the power of stalking was 

 brought into play you may be sure, no trouble was too 

 much. We marked a rock from which we fancied we 

 could see the panther, and kill him before he saw us. 

 After much pains this was gained, and oh ! imagine my 



