ADVENTUKES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 263 



was said to be, and as the sun became powerful, I rode over 

 with the thakoor. We found my own party of twenty men, 

 and about fifty villagers assembled ; and, riding to a small ris- 

 ing ground, we proceeded to examine the ground and arrange 

 the plan of operations. 



Before us lay a wide expanse of rough grass and bushes, 

 having here and there an irregular and steep-banked nullah 

 running down on a main watercourse, which bounded the 

 ground on the side next to us. At some distance to our left, 

 down the bed of the stream, stood a large peepul-tree. Higher 

 up, on our right, was a mowa-tree, and my choice of positions 

 lay between them. I decided on mounting the peepul ; and 

 having told off my own men into three parties, and given to 

 each a proportion of villagers, I sent them off with directions 

 to extend so as to form an unbroken line, and to drive the 

 grass down towards the peepul-tree. 



All being arranged, I went off to take up my position ; 

 but I found the tree too large to climb, the trunk being clear 

 of branches for a considerable height. The situation was 

 unpleasant, as the tiger might be expected at any moment. 

 No time was to be lost, and I ran back to the hillock from 

 which I had surveyed the ground, and signalled to the beaters 

 to halt. I then sent word to them to bring the right forward, 

 and to drive up towards the mowa-tree, into which I climbed, 

 and found myself in a very commanding position. High up 

 above me I had placed a look-out, and before long this man 

 whispered that the tiger was on foot, and coming towards us. 

 Presently he came quietly out of the bed of the main water- 

 course, and stood in the long grass looking back towards the 

 advancing line. In a few seconds he came on again, and 

 when he was within fifty yards I gave a low whistle, and he 

 at once halted. At that moment I fired, shooting him dia- 



