i88 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SHIKAR 



times, and then at the light, then he turned and 

 looked straight up into my tree, though as he was 

 in the rays of light and I in darkness I do not think 

 he could possibly have seen me; but he must have 

 heard or seen them tying up the machan. The 

 night was absolutely still, not a breath of wind, and 

 I could hear the panther breathe and I did not dare 

 breathe myself. He turned to look towards the 

 path down which the men had gone and stood 

 listening to their voices, while I was able to cover 

 him with the rifle. Then he came fairly into the 

 light and I got my shot, which knocked him down ; 

 he gave one struggle to get up, but the next shot 

 finished him. 



I could still hear voices distinctly when I fired, but 

 at the sound of the shot I think the men took to 

 their heels and ran back to the village, which was 

 perhaps the wisest thing they could do. 



It was a long time before they came back and 

 then they stood at a distance and waited until I 

 called out that it was safe for them to come. They 

 all had clubs or long sticks and beat at the trees and 

 bushes as they came along, which they did noisily, 

 they were also carrying torches with them. In the 

 village the usual rites were performed, a coco-nut 

 presented to the panther, a light waved three times 

 round his head, and then three times round my foot. 

 The men all began to disappear as orders were given 

 for half a dozen of them to carry the big panther 

 he was 7 ft. 9 in. back to the Arjuni camp. The 

 Ranger, however, collected enough of them to do 

 this and we all started. It was a beautiful starlight 



