<>2 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



men, many of whom carried those useful imple- 

 ments wherever they went. Strips of jow or other 

 withe-like jungle shrub, or the bark of trees, served 

 as lashings ; and the tiger's paws were soon bound 

 to the poles, and the latter raised on the shoulders 

 of half a dozen men, three in front and the same 

 number behind. With constant relief from the 

 rest, they carried the tiger, thus slung, in triumph 

 to the camp. 



All the servants were on the look-out as the pro- 

 cession approached, eager to inspect the formidable 

 creature, whose extraordinary dimensions and de- 

 structive habits had long been themes of village 

 gossip, and given rise to many highly embellished 

 stories of his power and voracity. 



Not a few were the congratulations of those whose 

 cattle had furnished meals to the destroyer ; and it 

 was amid exclamations of satisfaction, and much 

 abuse of the tiger itself, and all its female relatives, 

 that old Rugonauth applied a lighted brand to the 

 noble whiskers with which its face was well gar- 

 nished. 



" What are you doing that for, Rugonauth ? " 

 asked Hawkes. 



" Ah, Sahib ! " he said ; " it would be wrong to 

 leave them. Much harm might come." 



" How do you mean much harm ? " inquired the 



