ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 255 



from above, and the only spot from which a clear view could 

 be got, was the face of the ravine opposite to where she lay. 

 This position was attended by a slight objection, inasmuch as 

 the tigress, if wounded, could charge straight at us. We had 

 just reached this place, when she rose from the base of a large 

 stone under which she had been lying, and stood for a moment 

 undecided. I whispered to Ward that we should not get a 

 better chance, and at once fired. The ball struck her about 

 the middle of the ribs, and crossing diagonally, came out 

 before the shoulder. The wound was a mortal one ; but she 

 wheeled round and dashed down the ravine to our left. Ward 

 put in another shot, and she fell over, and was dead before we 

 could get up to her. The heat at this place was terrific ; the 

 sun of May beat down on the black and scorched rocks around 

 us, while the hills and scrub jungle by which we were sur- 

 rounded shut out every breath of air. Ward never paused to 

 look at the tiger, but set off at once for the nearest water, 

 which was said to be in the bed of a small river, about two 

 miles off. Hastily directing the men to get the tigress on 

 the elephant, and follow, I went after him. I did not over- 

 take him till he had reached the river, where I found him 

 drenching his head with water from a hole which the men 

 had scooped in the sand. He assured me, that had he paused 

 on the way, he felt that he must have been struck down by 

 the sun. On our way back to camp a fine young pig was 

 shot by Ward ; and we improved our banquet by pork-chops 

 and soused countenance. 



The Mhye river lay a mile to the westward of our tents, 

 and next morning our men were on the banks before day- 

 break, on the look-out for game. They marked a bear into 

 some very rough ground, and, posting ourselves together, we 

 sent them round to drive. The spot where we stood was sur- 



