BULLET AND SHOT 



occasion to take out either a chopper or a small 

 axe, the labour of cutting off his head was a very 

 heavy one. However, by dint of hard work it was 

 done at last ; and as my Pegu pony " Box " had 

 been brought up after the death of the bull, I 

 mounted him and started back with my men, four 

 of whom carried the head slung on bamboos, and 

 the others my rifles, luncheon bag, etc. 



The sun, though low, was still shining brightly, 

 and before long we struck a cart-track made by 

 rough country vehicles when hauling timber out 

 of the forest ; and asking my men whether it went 

 straight out to the high road, and receiving an 

 answer in the affirmative, I cantered off along it 

 at a good pace. The forest was intensely still, and 

 the setting sun shone brightly through the deciduous 

 trees now touched by the blight of autumn. It 

 struck me, as I rode along, how often I had hoped 

 that I might, when out with my rifle looking for 

 deer, chance upon a tiger similarly engaged ; and 

 how very awkward it would be, in my now unarmed 

 condition, were one of these animals to mistake my 

 pony's clattering hoofs for those of a sambur, and 

 try to seize my mount. To prevent such a con- 

 tingency I made a noise as I rode along. After 

 riding some three or four miles at a good pace r 

 I pulled " Box " up and permitted him to walk, 

 while I took out my pipe and tobacco pouch, 

 intending to smoke. I had my pipe in one hand, 

 and my pouch in the other, " Box " meanwhile 

 walking quietly along, and I was about to fill the 

 former, when suddenly a slight rustle in the jungle 



166 



