286 THE TIGER'S RETURN. 



becomes impossible to avoid moving. The leaves for screening the platform 

 should be of a kind that will not dry soon, nor rustle if touched. Some 

 kinds shrivel up in a couple of hours, and crackle with the slightest move- 

 ment. No one should be allowed on the platform with the sportsman ; a 

 native is absolutely certain to cough at the critical moment. The platform 

 should be placed about fifteen or twenty feet high, when possible, to lessen 

 the chances of the tiger's scenting the sportsman. A tiger rarely looks up 

 unless his attention is attracted by some sound ; but there is great danger 

 of his winding the sportsman. There is no objection on the score of safety 

 in having it lower, as tigers never attempt an escalade when suddenly 

 startled. The cases in which they have injured sportsmen in trees have 

 occurred when their ire has been roused by being driven about by beaters. 



As soon as the jungles are quiet the tiger may be expected, and the 

 sportsman should seldom watch for him beyond half-past eight in the even- 

 ing, as if he intend to come he will have put in an appearance before that 

 time. Nor should he take up liis post later than four o'clock, as a tiger 

 often comes long before sundown. A tigress for which I was watching on 

 one occasion returned to her IdU at three in the afternoon of a very hot day. 

 I expected her early and had taken up my post at two o'clock On this 

 occasion the position was a difficult one, as there was no choice between a 

 bush too close to the " kill " and a tree too far away. I was obliged to 

 take the former, and laying some poles across the bush I had an elephant's 

 pad placed on them, and green boughs arranged round as a screen. I was 

 only seven feet from the ground, and on a very unstable arrangement. I 

 had been watching about an hour, when suddenly, without other notice ot 

 her approach, there was the cautious but firm tread — that sound which 

 there is no mistaking, and which once heard cannot be forgotten — of the 

 tigress in the dead leaves under me ! She had, unfortunately, approached 

 from behind, and taking advantage of my bush as a last point of observation, 

 had entered it ! I was within three feet of her ! I need not say she 

 detected me m an instant, but drew back so stealthily that I did not hear 

 her leave, and I remained in the pleasant position of imagining her within 

 arm's-length for a quarter of an hour. At last the excitement overpowered 

 my physical control, and I could not help moving, and looking I found she 

 was gone. I left, so as not to risk frightening her further, and she returned 

 after dark and dragged the bullock away. 



Mosquitoes never give much trouble in fine weather up till half-past 

 eight at night. Three or four days before full moon, and about two days 

 after, is the best time for watching. Nothing can be done in dark nights. 

 The kill may be dragged a few yards to afford a better shot if necessary. 



