Sporting Trips of a Subaltern 



numerous pals. Doubtless some of the pay found 

 its way to his own pockets. 



Tiger and leopard were plentiful, and we were 

 within an ace of bagging one of the former. A 

 cow was killed one night, and we sent out coolies 

 to build "machans" (platforms) in the trees over 

 the carcass ; we went there about 4 p.m. My 

 machan was so rickety and uncomfortable that I 

 lay along a bough instead; I had a good view 

 of the late cow, about twenty yards in front. I 

 was never very partial to this form of amusement : 

 you lie there with cramp in all your limbs, bitten 

 by mosquitoes, not daring to more, not even able 

 to smoke for fear of offending Mr. Stripes' delicate 

 nostrils. For some time the silence of the forest 

 was unbroken save by occasional violent flapping 

 in the trees caused by the vultures, who were 

 assembled in dozens, but who, either disturbed 

 by us, or fearing the return of the tiger, didn't 

 venture to the kill. Slowly the shadows length- 

 ened, the last ray of the setting sun disappeared, 

 and a cold breeze made a rustling in the trees; 

 then darkness blotted out everything, but not 

 for long, as it was an early moon and the forest 

 was again visible in patches, a steady light falling 

 on the carcass and its immediate surroundings. 

 The tens of mosquitoes now changed to myriads, 

 a perpetual buzz all round, hands, wrists, neck 

 and face were soon tingling with their stings; 



44 



