386 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



pliant, who, though a staunch, experienced old fellow, 

 gave a sort of squeak, and turned half round. After 

 galloping a few yards, the tiger again faced me as 

 we brought the elephant round and lay down, claw- 

 ing at the earth and bushes in his pain. I gave him 

 another shot, and he turned and slunk into a deep 

 narrow nullah. It was some time before I could 

 make him out after I advanced to it, but at length 

 the mahout discerned his tail ; so, circling round, I 

 soon got a better view of him, and saw that he was 

 very nearly expended. I administered one pill 

 more, by way of coup de grace ; and as the sun was 

 sinking, we pulled out of the nullah the dead body 

 of a huge male tiger of enormous girth. 



" We found that one of my first bullets had gone 

 through a paw, and another had entered at the 

 loins, and as with the tiger yesterday had lodged 

 just within the skin of the belly. No wonder the 

 poor beast was averse to travelling far ! " 



" A very nice day's sport," remarked Norman, 

 when Mackenzie had concluded. " But rather a 

 pity, certainly, as Hawkes says, that you did not 

 get a right-and-left shot at the two first." 



" Have tigers ever been shot right and left ? ' 

 inquired Hawkes. " I don't mean only wounded, 

 but effectually polished off." 



" I should suppose they have, occasionally," Nor- 



