232 IN THE INDIAN JUNGLE. 



he ! ' "Is that the thief who would not show 

 his face to the daylight, so that the sons of 

 Ram might know him ? " " Yes ! yes ! " shouted 

 the mob again. " Is this the lord of the 

 forest, the mighty one at whom even the 

 elephant trembles ? " " No ! no ! this is a dog 

 and a son of a dog ! " This abuse is kept up 

 for some time, and then the leader says : " Ye 

 mighty ones of Pursuram, show what you do 

 with stealers of cattle, frighteners of old women, 

 and prowlers of the night." There is silence for 

 a moment. The six spearsmen range themselves, 

 three on each side, with spears levelled at the object 

 in the centre. Suddenly there is a loud thump of 

 the drums, and a shout from the multitude, as 

 the six spearsmen rush forward and thrust their 

 spears simultaneously into the body of the tiger. 

 With a mighty effort the tiger brings his legs together 

 and springs clean into the air, nets and all ; the 

 upward bound sends the spearsmen sprawling, two 

 of the spear handles snapping short off, while the 

 others still stick in the body of the tiger like the 

 quills of a porcupine. Now the mob rush forward 

 and begin belabouring the body, till all signs of life 

 are extinct. The spears are withdrawn, and boys 

 over a certain age are marked across the chest 

 with the blood of the tiger, as a sign of manhood. 

 Then the nets are unloosened, and the body is 

 carried in triumph to the village. 



