84 The Hunting Grounds 



brain, and she fell dead on her side, the blood stream- 

 ing from her mouth and nostrils. 



The poor horsekeeper did not appear quite dead, 

 though I saw at once that there was no hope for him ; 

 for the whole back part of his head was carried away 

 by the first blow from the paw, which, at the same 

 time, had torn down the flesh from the back of the 

 neck between the shoulders as if it had been done 

 with an iron rake. The hands were beating the 

 ground with a nervous, palpitating motion, and two 

 or three tremulous shudders passed over the whole 

 body ; but soon all was over, and I gave orders to a 

 couple of coolies to carry the corpse to the village for 

 burial. 



One of the shekarries had killed the cub with his 

 matchlock, and the remains of the other was found 



partially burnt by the fire, W having wounded 



it so severely in the hind-quarters as to prevent it 

 being able to move away on the approach of the line 

 of fire; and the tigress appeared to have remained 

 with her offspring until the fire had actually reached 

 her, for I afterwards remarked that the skin was much 

 singed and burnt in places. 



W was much affected at the loss of his horse- 

 keeper, for he had been in his service for some years, 

 and had always proved himself a faithful servant. 

 However, as nothing could be done, we retook our 

 station in the line and the battue was continued. 



