6 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SHIKAR 



two of his men to keep watch over me. Next morn- 

 ing the patel, pony man and shikari came early and 

 I drove to the village, where my servant had already 

 arrived. 



The shikari was disappointed that I had been too 

 late to sit up over the goat and so missed a good 

 chance. However, I sat and watched until dark 

 that evening. Nothing happened and I began to 

 think there was no panther there and that I had been 

 " had/' just to bring a little baksheesh to the village. 

 I drove home, but, before starting, the shikari said 

 he should not give up the hope of killing the panther 

 and would come and tell me when he saw his tracks 

 again. 



About a week after this he came. Another goat 

 had been killed. Would I come out? I thought 

 not. He begged me to come as the panther was 

 causing them so much loss among their flocks. 



I thought I had been rather a fool to go on the 

 previous occasion, as I was told in the Station by 

 those who knew that it was most unlikely I should 

 find any panther in this district. I was lazy, and 

 it was grilling out in camp. So I hedged, and said, 

 "Go to every sahib in the Regiment and Indian 

 Regiment, and if no one will go, I will/' Two days 

 afterwards he came back. " Some sahibs won't go; 

 some sahibs can't get leave; and mem-sahib said 

 she would go if no sahib would come." 



I did not start in quite such a hurry this time, but 

 sent the servants and kit and a horse on over night. 

 Then I drove out in the early morning, found the 

 horse waiting half-way and cantered on. The tent 



