ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 315 



much hurt that he bolted on our arrival in camp. We were 

 well rid of him, and the grasscutter, being there and then pro- 

 moted to the rank of mahout, proved a most efficient substi- 

 tute. The panther attempted to break up the bank of the 

 river, but was turned by my men, and retreated into some 

 close jungle of mimosa. On our advancing on him he charged 

 viciously, and gave some trouble before he was killed. He 

 was 7 feet 10 inches in length. Crossing over some hills on 

 our way to the tents, we saw a gigantic bear, but he was far 

 beyond rifle-range. 



While seated at breakfast on the following morning, 

 intelligence came in from two of our parties of markers. 

 One man reported a bear, the other a large tiger, which 

 was supposed to be the same which had escaped at Nulwye. 

 The latter, of course, commanded our immediate atten- 

 tion. He was lying in a fringe of thick bushes on the left 

 bank of the river, but as his exact position was unknown, we 

 had some difficulty in fixing on the plan of attack. We ex- 

 pected him to break away to the left, where the country was 

 covered with grass and bushes. Here and there were a few 

 trees, and it was decided that Cadell and Murray should mount 

 two of these, while Evans and I advanced on elephants from 

 either flank along the bed of the river. As I proceeded to my 

 position a panther rose at the elephant's feet, but I did not 

 fire. As soon as the men in the trees were in position, we 

 advanced, and the tiger, which probably had a lively recollec- 

 tion of his previous persecution, left the bed of the river un- 

 perceived by either Evans or myself. He took the line which 

 we expected, but, being turned by a shot from the trees, came 

 back towards me, and, roaring savagely, threw himself into a 

 dense thicket. As I advanced on him he went off, and lay 

 up in a thin fringe of willows in the bed of the river. 



