238 HUNTING THE TIGER WITH ELEPHANTS. 



Mr. Barrill, the two Parsees, and I took our seats while 

 upon the cows, two bands of Hindoos armed with guns 

 and spears. The proprietor, had command of one of these 

 parties. A servant was now directed to show us th 

 traces of the tiger which had committed the depredation 

 during the night. He complied but could scarcely refrain 

 from shuddering as he stepped where the shap claws had 

 left their marks deep in the ground. 



. Our elephant now took the lead, and our mahout fol- 

 lowed the traces with an eye'as keen as that' of an Indian 

 hunter of America, beating the bushes as we proceeded. 

 The tracks led us about a mile across a plain covered 

 wiih longle grass, from which numerous flocks of wild fowl 

 arose. Then we reached thick clumps of trees among 

 which progress was more difficult. We had advanced 

 about a mile through this description of country, wnen 

 suddenly, all the elephants drew their tusks up into the 

 air, and began to trumpet and stamp violently with their 

 fore feet. They then obeyed the spears of their drivers 

 and moved boldly forward, with their trunks raised, their 

 ears expanded, and their sparkling little eyes gazing in- 

 tently ahead. " We are very near him now," said one of 

 the Parsees ; "fire where you see the long grass shake." 

 My rifle was ready, and I was anxious of distinguishing 

 myself by a telling shot. But Mr. Barrill threatened to 

 be a formidable rival. Our elephant checked his pace 



