296 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



resolutely refused to avail himself of its advantages, 

 declaring that he preferred taking his chance on 

 terra firma, as he attributed the preceding day's ill- 

 luck entirely to his being " perched up aloft, like a 

 confounded old crow/' as he expressed it. So a con- 

 venient spot on a rising ground was found for him, 

 and there he established himself behind the trunk of 

 a small tree, into which he made his spare gun 

 carrier climb, and keep a look-out. 



The cover was of very unequal thickness, some 

 portions being much denser than others. As one or 

 two of these were known to be favourite haunts, it 

 was thought advisable to keep the men together, and 

 beat from one to the other, instead of extending 

 them over the whole width. 



This plan soon proved successful ; for from one 

 of the first of the thickest patches, a tiger was 

 observed by a marker to steal away. This being 

 notified to the beaters, the line was still further 

 contracted, and followed in the direction the animal 

 had been seen to take. 



Hawkes, who was stationed in a tree just within 

 the confines of the cover, soon caught a sight of the 

 tiger with his head turned towards the beaters, and 

 evidently listening, quite unconscious of the prox- 

 imity of any other clanger. He levelled and fired, 

 and the beast acknowledged the compliment by 



