A MAN-EATING WOLF. 93 



mile off. Going down the course about a mile and 

 a half we entered a dense jungle of thorn and 

 brushwood among some hillocks, and at length in 

 a thick clump we saw the ruins of a Sivaite temple. 

 This was carefully surrounded, and guns and spear- 

 men placed in position. The Bheel showed us 

 tracks similar to those already noticed, near the 

 margin of a water-hole in the rivulet, and along a 

 path leading thence to the temple. In addition to 

 these were the well-marked paws of a large wolf. 

 The men were instructed on no account to injure 

 the wolf-boy should he be found, but to capture 

 him alive. The circle gradually narrowed round 

 the old temple, and stones were now thrown 

 among the brushwood to start the game, but with- 

 out effect. Soon the stone plinth or platform on 

 which these temples are always built was reached, 

 yet no wolf or wolf -boy was to be seen. There was 

 the little chamber in the temple, where the phallic 

 emblem is displayed ; the single entrance to this 

 was almost concealed by ruins and brushwood, and 

 was just the kind of place a wolf would select 

 as a den. The shikaris were sure we should find 

 the wolves within this lair. Several stones were 

 thrown in, but nothing moved. Now a lighted 

 firebrand was flung in, yet not a sound. Our Bheel 

 guide at last ventured within, with a firebrand in 

 hand, but the place was empty nor was there any 

 sign of its having been frequented by animals of 

 any kind. We turned away in disgust and were 

 just leaving the precincts of the temple when an 

 exclamation from one of the men caused us to 



