404 THE EASTERN HUNTEES. 



and went to his hut. There, for half-an-hour he sat 

 alone. But after that he came out, and went to the 

 tree beneath which many were listening to the tale 

 of his companions. 'The tiger must die/ he said, 

 ' who will help me to kill him ? ' Many of the 

 young men stood up and said they were ready. 

 My father selected five, all armed with swords and 

 matchlocks, and again they went to the field. They 

 walked round it, and found that the tiger was still 

 in the high grain. Then they got on his trail and 

 followed him to his lair. My father was leading, 

 and was the first to see him. He fired, and this 

 time no spirit changed the course of the bullet. It 

 struck the tiger ; but in the next moment my father 

 lay dead, with his skull crashed, and the tiger 

 dashed away. It has since been a little lame, and 

 has become very cunning. But now I know that it 

 is still alive* I shall not rest till it dies." 



" But take care, Koopur," said Mackenzie, as the 

 man concluded his brief narrative, " or your fate 

 may be the same as your father's." 



" If it will be so, Sahib, it will be." 



" Well, what is to be done now ? " Norman 

 asked. "We have not enough men to beat. It 

 will be as much as they can do to carry the bear 

 into camp. But we might inspect any favourite 

 places in the neighbourhood." 



