SOME BEARS IN SATARA 117 



if he did come, until I arrived. They did not watch, 

 and when I went about nine or ten o'clock, I found 

 that he had already been and had moved the carcase 

 from under the rays of the lantern. It was a great 

 wonder that he had not taken it away altogether. 

 We found it only a few yards away, and I told the 

 men to drag it back under the lamp, making as much 

 noise as possible, to show the panther there was no 

 deception. They were glad to be able to talk loudly, 

 and there was great shouting and clearing of throats 

 too, as they thought the panther was probably in 

 the near vicinity ; *it was a relief to me as well to 

 talk, as I wished to use a little forcible language at 

 once to the two coolies who were told to keep watch 

 and had so nearly spoiled everything. 



The remains of the calf being replaced, I climbed 

 up into my tree and the men went noisily away, the 

 cook-house fire was put out and the doors of the 

 servants' houses were closed. Soon there was a rustle 

 among the dead leaves on the ground, then there 

 was stillness for an hour or more. The next thing 

 I heard was the rattle of a loose stone on the wall and 

 something sprang over. After a short pause the 

 panther walked up to the kill. He looked round 

 cautiously on all sides, then put his nose down on to 

 the calf to begin his much-delayed dinner. The 

 gun went up and he went down, sinking very slowly, 

 like the dying hero on the stage. I was shooting 

 with slugs out of the 20-bore gun, and fired both 

 barrels almost simultaneously at his head. 



Mrs. R. was hustled out of her bed to see the 

 panther, and the baker, who claimed part ownership 



