390 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



him. The bullet that killed the tigress took effect 

 high iu the left shoulder, and after passing through 

 her neck, lodged under her right ear. She was in 

 the act of turning at the time/ " 



" How capital ! " exclaimed Hawkes. " It would 

 be worth a year of life to perform such a sporting 

 feat and done so cleverly, too." 



" Yes, it is not everybody who has the luck to get 

 the chance, or make the most of the luck when he 

 does get it." 



Norman now rejoined them, and the conversation 

 turned on the subject of the jackal-attendant of the 

 tiger or the " lion-provider," as it is termed, in 

 performing a similar duty for that beast of prey. 



" Some suppose," said Mackenzie, " that it leads 

 the tiger up to game ; its superior sense of smell 

 enabling it to act as guide. Others fancy that it 

 merely accompanies the tiger, so as to come in for a 

 share of' the feast, when the nobler animal has satis- 

 fied itself." 



" But then, in the latter case," said Hawkes, 

 " they would follow, and not precede the tiger. I. 

 wonder if there is really anything in the tradition ? 



" The natives believe in it," observed Norman. 

 " But, apparently, it is not every jackal who is 

 eligible for the situation. The cry of the regularly 

 appointed one is quite different to the usual howl." 



