302 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



However, I shot a fine panther, which gave us some good 

 sport, in a bit of open jungle, where he charged my elephant 

 with great ferocity. 



One morning the tigress was seen to enter a small ravine 

 about one hundred yards in length, which we had hitherto 

 deemed unworthy of notice. Creeping quietly forward, I 

 climbed a tree in a good position, and as she came out I 

 rolled her over. She was up again in an instant, and slunk 

 back into the cover, into which I followed her on the elephant. 

 Presently I spied her remaining cub lying at full length, 

 broadside on, on a ledge of rock on the side of the ravine. I 

 fired, and as the ball struck the tiger it bounded straight out 

 into the air, and, falling on the slope, danced down to the 

 bottom on its hind legs, like a cat in a child's picture-book. 

 The wound was mortal, and it fell dead. Soon after I got a 

 sight of the tigress, which lay hidden by some thick creeping 

 plants. Not wishing to spoil the skin, I hesitated to fire till 

 I could be sure of killing her. She suddenly rose, and, rush- 

 ing off through the bushes, got away, and leaving the ravine, 

 made off down the river. We followed for some distance, 

 and it was only after I had almost given her up for lost that 

 some of my men caught sight of her in a thick bush into 

 which she had crept. This time I give her no law, and a 

 shot through the head closed the affair. 



On my way back to camp I was mounted on my riding 

 camel, having Dhokul, who was as usual armed with his re- 

 gimental carbine of the old Brown Bess pattern, on the seat 

 behind me. On the side of a hill, near the tents, I saw several 

 peacocks sitting among the rocks, and, halting the camel, I 

 fired from his back, sending the musket-ball through a fine 

 cock at a distance of about eighty yards. 



About this time Captain Bannerinan left me, and I moved 



