284 IN THE INDIAN JUNGLE. 



them all success I saw them off and then went 

 on to the village to induce the transit drivers to 

 supply bullocks for the next two stages, there 

 being none available at the station five miles off, 

 the men having deserted owing to fear of the 

 tiger. I pointed out to the men that with two 

 such noted shikarees as Kaye and Ward before 

 us there was nothing to fear as they were certain 

 to account for the tiger if it was about. After 

 much persuasion I managed to procure two 

 drivers and two sets of bullocks, one to yoke 

 to the coach and the other to follow behind, 

 to drag from the next station. It was about 

 four in the afternoon when we set out, my 

 servant on the box beside the driver, and the 

 extra pair of bullocks trotting close behind the 

 keeper at their heels urging them on. To inspire 

 confidence I had my double Westley-Richards in 

 my hand, having carefully loaded it with an extra 

 charge of powder, ready for contingencies. Keeping 

 a bright look-out ahead, we were jogging along 

 in the hot sun and amid clouds of dust, and hoped 

 to get to the changing station in a few minutes. 

 I had been chaffing the driver as to the man-eater, 

 and asked him where it had got to ? Was he 

 alarmed now ; and had he not done wisely in coming 

 with me ; when suddenly with a snort of alarm the 

 bullocks behind the transit galloped to the front 

 and went tearing along with tails erect. Turning to 

 learn what had alarmed them, I saw an enormous 

 brute of a tiger slouching off in the brushwood 

 beside the road, with the unfortunate bullock 



