of the Old World. 61 



near enough to be certain of my aim, he got wind 

 of me, and sprang into the thick jungle. I saw 

 him very distinctly, as the sun was fast setting, 

 and he appeared to me to be of a different colour 

 to other tigers, being of a dirty yellow, the stripes 

 not showing." 



" Well, Kistimah," said I, " the only way to 

 make sure of the colour of his skin is to bag him ; 

 and this is the way I propose setting about it. 

 When we arrive at the village, I shall order the 

 Tassildar (head police authority) to assemble as 

 many beaters as he can, to be ready at the earliest 

 dawn to-morrow, and we will try and beat him 

 out. To-day we will follow up his trail, and 

 visit some of the places where he has been lately 

 seen; perhaps by good luck we may come across 

 him." 



"Well, sahib, your plan is good; you speak like 

 a book, and I have nothing better to propose ; still 

 I am not very sanguine of success, for he is a very 

 old and cunning devil; but, Inshallah (please God), 

 I'll burn his whiskers for him yet. Who is the 

 tiger of defiled fathers, that he should cast dirt on 

 our beards?" 



By this time the village appeared in view, and I 

 sent on Kistimah to warn the head man of our 

 arrival. 



He came out to meet us as we entered the 

 village, and we dismounted and seated ourselves 



