36 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



towards the tree; but ere he had covered half the 

 intervening space, three rifle bullets crashed into his 

 body, and he rolled over into a dip in the ground 

 where the bushes concealed him. 



" Is he dead ? " was shouted to the marker ; and 

 that individual plucking up spirit as he saw the 

 dreaded beast lying prostrate before him, managed 

 to find a husky voice and answered, that "he 

 thought it w^as, though still gasping." 



" I'll go and see, and make sure," Mackenzie said, 

 "while you be ready here to cover me in case of 

 need." Accordingly he went to the tree, climbed 

 into it, fired a shot to make certain, and then pro- 

 claimed the tiger to be dead. 



It proved to be a splendid tigress ; and loud was 

 the chattering among the beaters as they gathered 

 round, and the boasts of what each had done towards 

 bringing the affair to a successful conclusion. 



One had stirred him up with a flower-pot, and 

 took great credit to himself for performing that feat 

 of valour from a safe position in the midst of his 

 fellows. Another had seen him first ; and expended 

 a deal of breath in describing, again and again, to 

 nobody in particular, how the beast moved, and 

 how he saw it ; and how it moved again, and he 

 didn't see it. A third had been nearest when it 

 took to the river, and with violent gesticulations, 



