DO TIGERS DREAD FIRE? 265 



had slept at the large fire. Motioning the crowd 

 to keep off, the naik called me to the place, and there 

 pointed out what appeared to be a drop of blood, 

 and, what was of more significance still, the well- 

 marked pug of a tiger. The marks were so small 

 that I said these were those of a panther, but 

 Kissen Sing, who was a noted shikaree, and had 

 often taken part in tiger shooting expeditions 

 in Tirhoot, declared it was a tigress and with cubs. 

 How on earth he inferred all this I cannot make 

 out, but subsequent events proved he was right. 

 He was of opinion that the tigress was answerable 

 for the four persons missing. She had followed 

 us up from day to day and when pressed with 

 hunger had carried off one of the men. Now that 

 we knew the source of danger, the men were not 

 so much scared, although still timid and moving 

 about in groups. A careful search was made with 

 the aid of the elephants, but not a trace of the 

 tiger or its prey could be found. We shifted camp 

 that day and the next and took no extra precautions, 

 as Kissen Sing said the tiger would not look for a 

 victim till it was again hungry. On the third 

 night he had a strong platform erected, about 

 twelve feet from the ground, among the trees, 

 and upon this the men slept, the elephants being 

 chained one on each side. The men slept in safety, 

 and there were no casualties to report in the morning. 

 The next day the same precautions were taken, 

 and the men safely stowed on the platform be- 

 fore it was dark. I had called for dinner, and 

 Ramaswamy, my Madrassee cook, had just left 



