282 THE EASTERN IIUNTERS. 



pery, shin-scraping, and, to a man of his weight, 

 somewhat difficult performance. In the very middle 

 of his exertions, when he was about half-way down, 

 the beaters who had ceased beating on hearing the 

 shots again struck up with a vigour which an- 

 nounced the excitement attending the view of game 

 or knowledge of its being afoot. This caused him 

 to pause in his descent ; and cries of " Bagh ! bagh ! " 

 and a loud roar, soon satisfied him that another 

 tiger was coming on. He struggled hard to regain 

 his position ; but before he could do so, a very large 

 tiger burst from the jungle in the track of the others, 

 and galloped past at full speed. Instead, however, 

 of following the example of his predecessors, and 

 rushing up the bank, he held on in a dip in the bed 

 of the river, hidden, except for a brief moment, 

 from the two sportsmen on the other side. 



Ere Mackenzie could re-establish himself in a 

 posture from which he could fire, the beast had 

 disappeared, having thus the luck to escape without 

 a single bullet being fired at it. 



" How old Mac is swearing 1 " said Norman to 

 Hawkes. " And, by Jove ! it is tantalising ! I am 

 really quite ashamed to meet Mauajee. Fancy all 

 three getting off in that way ! I couldn't for the 

 life of me get more than a transient glimpse of the 

 last one's yellow fur. Could you '. " 



