82 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



end nearest to the village, and not beyond two or 

 three hundred yards from the camp ; and the 

 hunters went on to the place indicated. 



Lots decided that Mackenzie should take the 

 near side, Norman the other, and Hawkes occupy 

 a central position. By this arrangement the tiger 

 would have to pass within twenty or thirty 

 yards of one of them, most probaby much nearer ; 

 and, it was hoped, in fair shot of all. The whole 

 width of the river's bed did not there exceed one 

 hundred yards. 



Unfortunately, the situation of the trees did not 

 permit of all three being in line, but in echelon ; 

 Norman, the most advanced, and Mackenzie the 

 most retired the latter, indeed, stationed within 

 the second section of the cover. Each sportsman 

 with a spare-gun-bearer, climbed into a tree, and 

 made himself as comfortable as he could ; not, 

 though, without some suppressed swearing on the 

 part of Mackenzie, whose heavy person was not so 

 easily accommodated as those of his lighter and 

 more active comrades. 



Norman's perch was on a stunted tree, little 

 more than a stump indeed, which, being on the 

 top of the sloping bank, gave him sufficient com- 

 mand, and enabled him to overlook several bushes 

 which were scattered about ; though it was not 



