124 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



quenched his thirst quite lately, for when we came 

 up the water was stUl flowing into the deeply-im- 

 printed pugs of his forefeet, which were close to the 

 edge of the pool, and I noticed that the water had 

 still the appearance of having been disturbed and 

 troubled. 



After having drunk, the brute had made his way 

 to some very thick jungle, much overgrown with 

 creepers, through which we could not follow with- 

 out the aid of our axes. 



Thus, stalking with any hope of success was out 

 of the question, so I held a solemn consultation with 

 Kistimah, Chineah, Googooloo, and the dhoby, as to 

 the best means of proceeding. 



I felt convinced that the brute was still lurking 

 somewhere near at hand in the jungle, for, besides 

 the very recent trail we were on, I fancied I heard 

 the yelling of a swarm of monkeys, which I attri- 

 buted to their having been frightened by his appear- 

 ance ; besides, this was just the kind of place that a 

 tiger would be likely to remain in during the heat 

 of the day, as it afforded cool shade from the sun, 

 and water. 



All the gang were of my opinion, and Kistimah 

 observed that, on two different occasions, after a 

 post-runner had been carried off, he had remarked 

 that the trail of the tiger led from this part of the 

 jungle to a bend in the road, where he had been 

 known frequently to lie in wait for his prey. 



"These man-eaters," added he, "are great devils, 



