SOME TIGER AND PANTHER STORIES 17 



he had only wax in his bullets, and I had copper- 

 tubes in mine. We both claimed the shot ; and, 

 as the result of a friendly discussion, it appeared 

 probable that the successful shot was Harrison's. 

 I therefore resigned the tiger with the best grace 

 possible, and we were all round the carcase 

 during the skinning operation, when Harrison's 

 servant, who was groping in the inside of the 

 tiger, held up something, saying, " What is this ? " 

 Examination showed that it was the copper tube 

 of my bullet, making it clear that mine had been 

 the successful shot, and the ownership of the 

 tiger was accordingly transferred. 



This tiger broke out of the beat and might have 

 gone clear away before he was fired at ; but the 

 Maila nullah which we were beating, with its 

 cool, shady trees and dense cane brake and a 

 stream of water in the centre, was a favourite 

 place for tigers in the hot weather, and the 

 animal, sooner than face the burning heat of the 

 sun at midday, returned to the nullah further on, 

 and met with his death in consequence. 



It is sometimes very difficult to decide who has 

 fired the first successful shot, but, if the contending 

 sportsmen are required to describe accurately 

 the position of the tiger when they fired, a care- 

 fully conducted post-mortem examination, after 

 removal of the skin, will generally disclose the 

 truth. The excitement of a tiger-shoot is not, 

 however, conducive to the frame of mind which 

 is required for a judicial investigation, and heated 

 arguments and disputes often result. 



I shot a fine panther in the same beat as the 

 tiger, and Harrison also shot a female panther. 



