284 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



go and take up the pug, Manajee. We'll follow 

 when I have loaded, and had a drink of water." 



Beckoning to two or three of the best trackers, 

 Manajee lost no time in doing as directed ; and, 

 having reached the spot, found indeed that there 

 was blood on the tracks. 



He was joined by the sportsmen, and the trail 

 was followed by the little party, the beaters being 

 ordered to keep aloof. For a couple of hundred 

 yards the blood was sparingly sprinkled about, but 

 after that it ceased. The ground, too, which had 

 been pretty open, studded only with trees and little 

 isolated thickets, now gave place to a continuous 

 tract of jungle, and Manajee advised them at once 

 to proceed, without loss of time, to another patch of 

 jow in the river bed, for which he thought the tigers 

 must have made. 



This was done, and the hunters went to the 

 further end ; but although that and a cover still 

 further on the latter, indeed, that in which the 

 tigress was killed were successively beaten, no 

 tiger was seen either by them or any of the men. 



Manajee was greatly dispirited at the want of 

 success attending these operations ; and, deeming 

 that it was useless to contend on that day with a 

 remorseless destiny, advised the Sahibs to take no 

 more unnecessary trouble, but return at once to 



