380 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



pecting a charge, and was therefore a little staggered 

 at such a silent, inactive way of receiving my salu- 

 tation. Could the bullet have dropped out ? I 

 thought. But, no ! the crack and feel of the gun 

 made me feel convinced the bullet had been there. 

 However, I didn't take much time to think, but 

 fired again, and again, without any response on the 

 part of the tiger. 



" ' He must be dead, Sahib ! ' said the shikaree, 

 as he handed me another gun. And dead he was ; 

 as we found on approaching close up. 



" The first bullet had cut through the side of the 

 head, destroying a portion of the brain ; and the 

 only movement the beast made had been to drop its 

 head." 



" Well, but how about the others ? " asked 

 Hawkes, as Mackenzie ceased. " Did you bag 

 them ? " 



" What an insatiable fellow you are for shikar 

 stories ! " laughed Mackenzie. " But as it is a fine 

 trait in your character, and deserving of encourage- 

 ment, I don't mind indulging you." And he thus 

 continued : 



" For some time I could make out nothing of the 

 other tiger, who was said to be but a few yards 

 from his companion. He had not stirred at the 

 shots ; and, if indeed there, I knew must be close 



