264 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



gonally through the root of the neck, and he fell forward quite 

 dead. I fired again, but he never moved. 



Meanwhile the beaters came on, and I saw a leopard 

 break away out of shot. As the men approached me, the 

 chief, who had remained stationed on the hillock with all his 

 followers, sent a horseman up to my tree to ascertain what 

 had become of the tiger. I told him it was dead, and at that 

 moment lying in the grass about ten paces in front of his 

 horse. Craning out his neck, he caught sight of the tiger a 

 full-grown male ; and without another word he wheeled round, 

 and went off to his master at full speed. 



The whole party now came up ; but the old chief, who 

 had at the least expected a smart scrimmage, seemed quite 

 sorry to see the beast, which had been for months 'the terror 

 of the place, so easily disposed of. He shook his head mourn- 

 fully, and exclaimed, "Wah ! Wah ! ek golee kya zoolum ;" 

 literally, "One bullet ! what injustice !" But he was consoled 

 with the knowledge that his cows would now graze in peace. 



