ioo THE WILDERNESS AND JUNGLE 



pathy, the animals do not resent bloodthirsti- 

 ness, for that, they know, is part of all Nature. 

 Even though they still dread his power, they 

 no more think of rejecting his friendship than 

 a child would think of refusing the love of a 

 parent who has both the will and the ability 

 to chastise. It is not to be denied that there 

 are occasions on which their belief in your 

 puissance may be embarrassing and their 

 craving for your sympathy inopportune. The 

 following experience will, I think, illustrate a 

 case in point. 



" I was walking home through the Indian 

 jungle in the gathering dusk of evening and, 

 when still several miles from any human habi- 

 tation, I became suddenly aware of a gentle, 

 measured footstep keeping pace with mine 

 about a dozen yards away in the undergrowth. 

 I had no weapon with me more formidable 

 than a white umbrella and so proceeded 

 quietly, wondering as to my companion's 

 identity. It was dark now, and a plaintive 

 mewing suddenly removed all doubt. It was 

 a full-grown tigress. This I knew, of course, 

 from the voice, as the tiger speaks from further 

 down in his throat, with a wholly different 

 effect on the practised ear. To run, even had 

 I been so minded, would have been absurd ; 

 to climb a tree, equally futile. There was 

 nothing therefore to be done but to walk 

 quietly on, and I did it. Step by step, follow- 

 ing each winding of the little path, absolutely 

 invisible in the shadows, the great beast ac- 

 companied me through the forest, every now 



