RETURN TO TIFLIS. 325 



if not, the moujiks tell strange stories of having 

 found half one of these grim birds, one talon still 

 clutching the ground, and the other, with the re- 

 mainder of the bird's body, still firmly fixed to the 

 back of its escaped victim. 



By-and-by, without even a rustle to announce 

 his approach, a large uncouth beast, like a small 

 bear with extremely bandy legs, is performing 

 strange gambols on the moonlit turf beneath 

 our hiding-place. After watching him long 

 enough to recognise in him a large badger, he 

 catches a glimpse probably of my rifle- barrels, 

 and noiselessly as he came, so noiselessly he melts 

 as it were out of the moonlight into the mys- 

 terious shadows beyond. And so. with here and 

 there a glimpse of the private life of its denizens, 

 the long night in the forest passes away, growing 

 colder and colder till near the dawn. 



At last there is a sound that startles the whole 

 neighbourhood, and the rustling of retreating feet 

 tells plainly that, though we saw them not, every 

 shadow had its tenant. A crashing of boughs, 

 and a firm, soft tread comes direct to my hiding- 

 place ; and with straining eyes 1 watch, until 

 the outline of the great beast shall slowly emerge 

 from the shadow. 



' Hulloh ! are you asleep up there ? Come 

 down, and have a pull at my flask. No more 

 chance of a tiger to-night.' 



