A RICKETY HAMMOCK 185 



despatch, and galloped on ahead to try and find out 

 for myself, while there was any daylight left, what 

 had really happened. The Ranger, the munshi 

 and a forest guard or two were waiting, and the 

 dead pony was not lying anywhere near the hut. 

 I said we would go at once to find out where it was. 

 They seemed very uneasy and said we could not go 

 until the guns arrived. However, they came with 

 me and showed me where the pony had been dragged 

 down some fields to the edge of the jungle, about 

 half a mile, and after following among the trees a 

 short way, we found where the pony was lying. 

 The old munshi said the pony had belonged to him, 

 and that they had all seen the tiger take it. They 

 were sure they were right about its being a tiger 

 because they had seen the stripes ; besides, the pony 

 was too big and heavy for a panther to take. The 

 pony was quite a big one, but it was evidently the 

 work of a panther : the stomach was cleaned out 

 first and the ends of the ribs gnawed. If it had been 

 a tiger we should have to wait until next day and 

 have a beat, but as it was a panther I must make 

 arrangements to sit up as soon as possible. 



Poor pony mare ! her little unborn foal was lying 

 on the ground beside her, such a pretty little foal 

 with short soft-looking hair, and no mark of tooth or 

 claw on it. I felt sure that the pony had been killed 

 by a panther, and said it would be no good beating 

 for him next day, but that I would sit up as soon as 

 the rifle and things came. It was now quite dark, 

 and as we stood discussing the best way of getting 

 the tiger or panther, the Ranger started, and said 



