212 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



known feline ; and although he again failed in his special 

 object, he brought about a result as unlocked for as it was 

 ludicrous and startling in the extreme. When R. had 

 approached the elephant in the posture described within four 

 or five paces, and I was calculating in my mind the chances 

 in favour of his getting a kick from her, up sprang a panther 

 between them, and leaping over R.'s back, scuttled down the 

 bank and into the covert on the south side, before he had 

 time to stand up, or I to snatch up the gun lying beside me. 

 This very unexpected termination to R.'s little game brought 

 us to our feet promptly, and in ten minutes more the panther 

 rather a small one of the grass variety lay dead in the 

 covert, which it would not desert again ; no doubt dreading 

 to meet the awful object which had so frightened it in the 

 open. 



That beast lay crouched in a little patch of thin low 

 grass within a couple or three paces of the elephant and R. 

 during their play, and almost at my feet during the first beat; 

 I think, therefore, that we were fortunate in coming scathless 

 out of that adventure. Had the elephant been older and 

 more experienced she would probably have scented the 

 panther and kicked it, though it was to leeward of her. So 

 long as R. roared and advanced on all fours the panther's 

 equanimity was not disturbed as it had seen something like it 

 before; but the unknown and terrific object which subse- 

 quently appeared proved too much for its nerves, and it 

 bolted into the jungle, displaying every sign of the most 

 abject fear and horror, incapable even of delivering a single 

 blow in retaliation. 



I have on several occasions joined in panther-hunting in 

 covert with dogs, but the casualties among our brave and 

 faithful fourfooted companions were so numerous in this 

 sport, that I have been deterred from following it. Tigers, 

 when roused by dogs, especially by small ones, such as 

 terriers, will do their best to escape from their insignificant 

 tormentors; panthers, on the other hand, invariably show 

 fight, and, although bayed by half a dozen or more, appear to 



