276 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



slight sound had attracted his attention to the boat, and 

 moving his curiosity had sealed his fate. The first "Ex- 

 press " bullet had pierced and completely shattered his heart, 

 the second had smashed his lungs, and the third had passed 

 through his ribs. 



Taking out the entrails, and casting them into the creek, 

 as an offering to the crocodiles, sharks, and turtle, a rope 

 fastened round his body, behind the arms, was thrown over 

 the branch of the nearest tree, and the fore-part was hoisted 

 by our united efforts two or three feet above the ground ; 

 next, with the other end of the rope tied round the loins and 

 far lighter half of the body, the hind parts were lifted above 

 the fore, and all made fast and left suspended, as the boat 

 would hold no more ; nor could we pick up the stag shot in 

 the early morning, which remained safe and untouched as we 

 had left it, vultures and carrion-crows being rare in the 

 distant " Soonderbuns." 



Landing the shore party on the north bank of the creek 

 at its mouth, I was soon on board my boat, glad to get a bath 

 and a change of clothing, for the day had been sultry, our 

 work hard in a close atmosphere, and my shooting suit was 

 saturated with blood and perspiration. During the night the 

 wind changed to the north-west, a short, chopping sea got up 

 with the flood, and made the boat pitch and roll till high- 

 water about midnight, after which there followed a perfect 

 calm, and all hands enjoyed the peaceful rest our labours had 

 well earned. 



The next morning there was much to be done, as the 

 tiger and deer had to be brought in, and I was desirous of 

 visiting the islet and to explore its shores. To do both, I 

 took five men in the jolly-boat, and hoisting its split-lug, we 

 crossed over, close-hauled with a smart nori/h- westerly breeze, 

 ordering the big boat to go up the creek when the flood made 

 to bring the game, and to await my return to its former 

 anchorage. 



The strong ebb carried us down to a point of the island 

 where the forest ended, and the long spit of sand pushed out 



