BULLET AND SHOT 



inhabited the vicinity. On the first non-working 

 day I went over to the place to beat. The first 

 drive proved blank, and we then proceeded to the 

 second. 



My ladder was placed against a large, shady tree, 

 on the bank of a wide, sandy nullah. The beat 

 began a long way off; and at last, after the men 

 had been at work for some time, but were still at 

 a distance, I saw a small tiger cross the nullah 

 some way off, with the evident intention of ascend- 

 ing my bank. The animal went out of sight while 

 covering a portion of the space to be traversed, but 

 afterwards reappeared, and I fired at it with a 

 1 2 -bore rifle. At the shot, the tiger rushed past 

 my front, roaring, and very lame ; and I killed it 

 within sight of my post. 



On hearing the shots, the beaters at once ceased 

 to advance, and after a little while I heard them 

 making a noise in such a direction as to cause me 

 to understand very clearly that any other animals, 

 which might be in the beat, would indubitably be 

 driven back, in place of being brought on towards 

 my post. 



I got down and examined the slain beast, which 

 proved to be a handsome female, about two-thirds 

 grown. 



Had the beaters only kept their formation, and 

 come on in line after the shots, I might have 

 secured both the tigress and the other cub. 



I am always most careful about the beaters, and 

 I told the men before beginning the drive on this 

 occasion, that should a wounded tiger break back, 



168 



