322 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



antipathy to the feline race), they judged it to be a 

 tiger. 



The horse-keepers and gun-men moved quickly 

 forward on being beckoned, and seizing their rifles, 

 the hunters, by the advice of their guide, ran along 

 to a bend of the river some distance a-head, and 

 squatted down behind a few bushes ; the beaters and 

 horses remaining where they were. 



They anxiously waited, with their rifles on full 

 cock, for several minutes, keeping a wary general 

 look-out over the open parts of the jungle in front, 

 and especially on the road which there crossed the 

 river. Suddenly again a partridge rose, but dropped 

 after flying a few yards. Another performed a 

 similar manoeuvre, and our sportsmen now felt con- 

 vinced that something must be on the move. 



" By the powers, there he is ! " whispered Nor- 

 man ; " but I can't quite make him out." 



" Where ? where ? " the others rapidly inquired, 

 in a cautious tone of voice. 



" There, near the road, on the other side. I saw 

 him move. He must be looking to see if all is 

 clear." 



Even as Norman spoke, a fine tiger stalked quietly 

 and majestically from the jungle on to the open 

 road, and in another second would have been across, 

 when the concealed battery opened upon him. 



