338 SHOOT THE PANTHER. 



but I was no match for the panther at climbing. As I scrambled forward I 

 saw the yellow-and-black-spotted hide of the brute through the fringe of 

 bushes as he glided easily upwards, about eight gun-lengths distant. I 

 could not see him distinctly enough to make sure of a vital part, and I was 

 fully imbued with the popular idea — which I have since, however, come to 

 regard as resting upon rather doubtful foundation, as I have seen as many 

 beasts charge up hill as down — of the danger of firing at a formidable beast 

 on liigher ground than one's self. However, there are cases where cautious 

 calculations weigh little ; and after my various disappointments with this 

 animal, I had no intention of letting him escape me if possible. I therefore 

 promptly fired both barrels of the rather inadequate weapon I was armed 

 with — a 1 4-smooth-bore — into his ribs. There was a deep growl, a moment- 

 ary silence, and then the panther rolled down the smooth rock on the far 

 side of the bushes, whilst I seized my spare gun from my attendant, and we 

 endeavoured to reach a more safe position. The wounded beast was, how- 

 ever, beyond doing mischief, and after a few struggles he died at the foot of 

 the shelving rock where he lay. Both bullets had passed completely through 

 him close behind the shoulders. 



Need I dilate upon the delight of a young sportsman at such an issue 

 to his hunt ? The men shared my pleasure, and plumed themselves with 

 just cause upon their action in intercepting the panther's retreat into his 

 cave. Had they not done this I should probably never have had a shot at 

 him. It was doubtless well for us that this beast was killed outright, as he 

 was an old male, and would not have been likely to stand on ceremony after 

 being maltreated. Amongst such boulders and chasms as those around us, 

 an attack might have been fatal from falls from the rocks without the assist- 

 ance of teeth or claws. Some of the men ran to their village for a couple of 

 bullock-yokes for carrying the panther, and quickly returned accompanied 

 by almost the whole community, male and female, young and old. The 

 panther was quickly raised aloft by half-a-dozen w illin g fellows, and carried 

 to Muddoor. We were rather long on the way through having to parade 

 the beast through several villages on the line of march. The panther had 

 been, with others of his race, on rather more intimate calling terms at 

 these places than the owners of stock had hitherto relished ; but they 

 welcomed him heartily under the circumstances of his present visit, and the 

 bearers collected a few pence for the obligation of carrying him to the chief 

 inhabitants' doors. 



The next panther I killed was one of two which some villagers informed 

 me had been long settled in a strip of bush-jungle and thickets bordering 

 the Tippoor channel, one of the irrigation works drawn from the Cauvery 



