ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 59 



We were encamped among the hills far from any village, 

 when my companion got a bad attack of fever and ague, and 

 was unable to leave his tent. 



As we intended to stalk sambur early next morning, I 

 went out with Shaik Adam before daybreak, and we had a 

 long walk over likely ground, but returned at nine to break- 

 fast, having only had a distant view of one sambur. 



Shaik Adam had arranged for a beat in the daytime, and 

 had assembled some men ; so we again went out, returning at 

 4 P.M., without having seen a hoof. 



My friend was better, and being hungry we sat down at 

 once to dinner, and had just finished when a herdsman came 

 running in and said his cow had been killed by a tiger about 

 three miles from our tents. The Shaik and I at once set off 

 with our guide, hoping that the tiger would return about sun- 

 down. As we approached the spot, which was in a rugged 

 part of the jungle, the cowherd pointed to the bush where 

 the cow lay, and we saw something moving close to the car- 

 cass. We naturally thought this must be the tiger, but it 

 turned out to be only a fine old peacock who was quietly 

 scratching the ground by the murdered cow. No part had 

 been eaten by the tiger, but in her neck were the marks of 

 the four fangs. 



As there was not much daylight left, we at once climbed 

 trees, and waited patiently for the arrival of the beast. The 

 sun went down, and the darkness came on, but still we sat 

 hoping for the tiger, till we could not distinguish the white 

 carcass of the cow beneath us. 



I then proposed that we should descend and return to 

 camp ; but the cowherd declared we should be eaten by the 

 tiger, and that we should never be able to retrace our steps at 

 night through the jungle and ravines. In this he was backed 



