110 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



men, who contrived to let all three escape seemingly tin- 

 touched ! 



This took place within a bowshot of my house during my 

 absence from home, and the colonel who was my informant, 

 explained that the surprise occasioned by the near proximity 

 of three such creatures when only one was expected, must 

 have caused three fairly good shots to make such a fiasco of 

 so splendid a chance. Be that as it may the tigers came not 

 again, and no wonder if four to six barrels were discharged 

 at them. 



If the unexpected appearance of a tiger will unnerve even 

 some old " Shikarees," can it be surprising that solitary 

 travellers along lonely jungle paths are entirely paralysed at 

 meeting face to face this fearful animal ? 



My young friend, W. M., mounted his "machan " one bright 

 moonlight night about nine o'clock, to watch for sambur over 

 a salt-lick among the foot-hills of Pareesnath, not far from 

 Topechansi. As a man-eating tiger had been infesting that 

 neighbourhood and carrying away people from even the trunk 

 road between the place above named and Mimsaghat, M. 

 sensibly adopted the precaution of being accompanied by a 

 number of men, some carrying torches, in his walk from camp 

 to the spot selected for night-watch, all of whom he dismissed 

 on mounting the platform, except an experienced old Maho- 

 medan " Shikaree," who was to be his companion. They had 

 hardly arranged the guns and rifles, and settled themselves to 

 their satisfaction, when M. remarked that something agitated 

 his attendant, who, lightly touching his back, whispered in 

 Hindoostanee the caution, " Look, sir." M., however, could 

 perceive nothing, although he peered among the rocks and 

 bushes which thinly strewed the ground around and in front 

 of the " machan," while the beams of the moon, near its full, 

 made all objects clear and distinct when not in the shadow 

 of a tree or boulder. A moment passed, and then the " Look,, 

 sir " of the " Shikaree " was repeated, and a trembling hand 

 pointed to the front. " Look at what ? " asked M. sharply, 

 annoyed with the old man ; " cannot you speak ? " The former 



