C HANCE OF A POSSIBLE " RECORD " MISSED 



As this hill was but a short distance up and there was 

 yet sufficient light, I decided to beat it on spec. We 

 accordingly made for the spot where, taking up my position 

 near a tree with Bapu beside me, I told the rest to go 

 round and work over the hill towards us. Parallel to, 

 and at the foot of the hill, was a dry watcr-coiu-se, the 

 far side of which was covered with dense reed and 

 bushes, 



I had my 500 Express as well as a lO-bore rifle, which 

 Bapu was carrying, the latter being intended for the bison 

 I had hitherto failed to find. 



Scarcely had the men reached the top of the hill, which 

 was studded with teak trees and bush, when I saw a 

 splendid bull bison emerge from the reeds, and come 

 walking along the water-course directly for our tree, which 

 he passed to the left, about five paces' distant. 



Quickly exchanging the Express for the 10-bore, I had 

 covered his massive shoulder, and was about to press the 

 trigger, when Bapu suddenly drew my attention to a huge 

 tiger which was trotting down the hill immediately opposite 

 ns ! 



The position was now a difficult and most perplexing 

 one, for here was I with a bull bison to my left and a tiger 

 to my right, free to shoot at either, perhaps at both, and 

 thus, with luck, create perhaps a record " right and 



left " ! 



It was an achievement by no means impossible, but 

 unfortumitely not destined to come off. ' Deciding to take 

 the tiger, I foolishly changed rifles again, and quietly as 

 this was done, the movement was sufficient to betray 

 us. The tiger, now only some twelve yards off, detect e<l 

 us at once, and swerving abruptly to the left, went lumbering 

 <l<)wn the hill. 



He passed me at a fast j^anuji. I managed, however, to 

 I lit him, and on receiving the shot, he lurcheti hcjivily 

 forward but held on, and entering a thick bamboo jungle 

 l)ord(ring the hill, was soon lost to view. 



\ ^ it was too late now to follow him, we postponed the 

 im«-M«it to the next morning, when we took up his tracks. 

 We found a few drops of blood at lirst, but after a time these 

 ceased to show, and though we followed up the pugs for a 



45 



