GO THE HUNTING GEOUNDS 



jungle, through which we made our way in Indian 

 file ; and as we went along I pointed out to Jock 

 small pieces of rag and long hair sticking on the 

 thorns of a bush, proving that the tiger had brought 

 his victim that way. 



" Gentlemen," said I, " as the scent begins to 

 warm, please look to your guns, and be ready in 



case we may surprise him. W , I wish you 



would take the rear, and prevent the people from 

 straggling. Chineah, keep near me with my second 

 gun, and Rungasawmy, do you cut the way in front 

 with as little noise as possible. We may very pos- 

 sibly come across him sleeping somewhere in this 

 thick cover after his feed, so keep a bright look out 

 on all sides, and take care and make as little noise 

 as you can in getting through the bushes." 



We were in single file, I leading, with much diffi- 

 culty, through the thick jungle, which had become 

 very dark from the dense foliage overhead. 



The intense silence which reigned around was 

 broken now and again, as we moved slowly on, by 

 the crackling of a twig underfoot, or a low grunt 

 from some one of the gang, as a sharp thorn 

 entered his naked and unprotected shoulder. At 

 times was heard the distant bark of the elk, or a 

 pattering of feet, as a herd of deer or a sounder of 

 pig got scent of us, and skirled away frightened 

 through the thickets, or a peacock rose with a loud 

 cry, scared by our movements. 



On we went, the trail still distinctly visible, when 



