ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 207 



road, which for him, riding at breakneck speed, was really 

 the shorter way, being all downhill. 



The villagers, terrorised by a calamity hitherto unknown 

 amongst them, implored the Dor ays to kill the beast before 

 he should have carried off any of their children or old folk, 

 let alone more strong young men such as his one victim, 

 as yet, had been. The Dorays needed no urging ; but a 

 guide to the spot was advisable, for there was nothing on 

 the path to mark it when we passed along — a guide only so 

 far as to show where the man had been seized. The rest — 

 the ascertaining of whither he had been taken — would be 

 done by F. and the other sportsman, one after his own heart, 

 and as cool as a cucumber. The three who had lost their 

 companion had now partly recovered themselves, and were 

 keen to help all they could in avenging him. All volunteered 

 to act as guides, but it was thought that the smaller the 

 party the better. Also, whoever went must remain ; no 

 going back ; for there must be no needless tramping about. 

 Therefore the unmarried one was chosen. 



It was already two o'clock, there was not much time, 

 and all to do by four or so, when the tiger, after having 

 gorged himself and then slept it off, would be stirring 

 again ; but now, they could feel sure, he was still sleeping 

 heavily, and in no condition to notice what might be going 

 on under his nose. They all thought it unlikely that he 

 had carried his prey very far, nothing being there to dispute 

 it with him, and the cover dense all around ; though, like 

 a common cat, a tiger must always steal away to devour 

 his ' kill ' in solitude. They expected to come upon indica- 

 tions enough of his whereabouts if he were anywhere near, 

 while, of course, it was quite on the cards that he might 

 be miles away. 



To make a long story short, the party of five set out — the 

 two shots, their guide, and a couple of peons with spare 

 rifles — and indications were found in the shreds of cotton 



