TIGER-HAUNTED JUNGLES 33 



tree for making the machan, which was done by tying 

 some branches crosswise, and weaving a screen of boughs at 

 a height of some ten feet from the ground. Above the 

 glen there towered a rock of gray sandstone in view of 

 the spot, whence the boy was instructed to look down at 

 evening time and again at dawn, to report as to the safety 

 of the calf. A cow-bell, made of hard wood hollowed out 

 with a tongue inside, was fastened round the patient 

 buffalo's neck, and he was left to his certain fate. These 

 preparations made, there was nothing to do but to return 

 to camp and wait patiently for news. 



Patience is a virtue important if the shikari will be 

 successful ; and other necessary qualities are foresight, 

 silence, the faculty of observing every indication of the 

 tiger's presence, and cunning to outwit so stealthy and 

 guileful an animal as the lord of the jungle. Nightfall 

 came without news, and the darkness and stillness of the 

 sweltering atmosphere was oppressive. Sleep was hard 

 to woo, and the ears of the watchful and excited Jussoo 

 were ever strained to catch the distant sounds and night 

 noises of the jungle. Twice the hollow, unmistakable 

 yawning call of the tiger came on the sultry air. Whence, 

 no one could tell, but sleep was impossible till near day- 

 break, when the wearied eyes closed for a little, and a 

 cool breeze passed through the tent. 



Jussoo's shiny face peeped into the small sholdarry 

 to give the news that the calf had been killed at earliest 

 dawn. A cup of hot tea and a rapid toilet did not 

 take long, and fresh loading was put into the two rifles, 

 one a single 8-bore, the other a Westley-Richards double 

 i6-bore, with which the rifle prize had been won. Now 

 came the critical time, when the machan had to be 

 mounted without the tiger knowing, as, if he heard 

 people near his kill climbing trees or cutting sticks, he 



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