SOME TIGER AND PANTHER STORIES 19 



the place where he had broken into a gallop. It 

 missed him, therefore, by a few inches only. The 

 direction was good, and the elevation only was 

 wrong. 



This was a serious disappointment, but in the 

 night the tiger, who was evidently a very ravenous 

 brute, returned to the kill and dragged the remains 

 to another hiding-place in the same jungle. 

 The shikari wanted me to sit up for him, but I 

 decided to have another beat. On this occasion 

 the tiger emerged at a fast walk and gave me an 

 easy shot, but on my wrong side. I hit him with 

 the first barrel low down in the stomach. He 

 gave a tremendous " Wouf," and went off at a 

 gallop. I swung round on the machan and, 

 as he was galloping off, made a good shot with 

 the second barrel, and put a bullet into the cen- 

 tre of his back. When the beaters came up I 

 descended and we began to look for blood. I 

 knew that I had hit him with the first barrel, 

 and the Stop on my left said that he had answered 

 to the second shot also. There was no blood, 

 however, and a small piece of fat about the size 

 of my little finger-nail was the only trace of the 

 tiger which could be found near the machan. 

 The ground was most unfavourable, with clumps 

 of bamboos at intervals and scrub jungle, as 

 high as a man's waist, in between. There were, 

 however, some trees. I sent for the riding 

 elephant, and we advanced together, the elephant 

 being a few paces in front, and I following on foot 

 and keeping, as far as possible, a tree between 

 me and the elephant, as I was doubtful of her 

 staunchness. Before we had gone far the mahout 



