36 THE PANTHER. 



In 1 882, I was at Falakata in the Bhutan Dooars, when I again received news of a kill. 

 I had only two Elephants in camp, but at once set out. I had not gone above a mile before 

 I heard shouting, and saw a Panther galloping across the open plain, pursued, at the distance 

 of three or four hundred yards, by several men armed with big sticks, and their dogs. I 

 shouted to the men to desist ; but it was some time before I could get them to obey. In the 

 meantime, the Panther had disappeared among some tufts of grass, which formed the only 

 cover that was to be seen for a considerable distance. Riding my Elephant up to these tufts, 

 I commenced to examine them carefully : they were much scattered, and none of them 

 seemed large enough to hide a peafowl. After closely inspecting a few of them, and satisfy- 

 ing myself that they were untenanted, I approached another, in which I felt confident that I 

 could make out the spotted skin of the Panther. So certain was I, that I at length fired into the 

 tuft from a distance of about twenty yards ; and as there was no response to the shot I made 

 sure that I had either killed the Panther outright, or else that I had been firing at nothing. 

 My Shikari evidently thought the latter ; but I rode my Elephant close up to the tuft, and 

 bending over the front of the howdah peered down into the grass. The Elephant's trunk was 

 actually touching the grass, but there was not a movement nor a sign of any animal. In 

 another moment I again fancied that I could see spots, and a still more careful scrutiny 

 showed me the heaving flanks of the Panther. He was evidently untouched, so I fired for his 

 spine, and this time there was no mistake. He bounded out with a roar, and cantered slowly 

 across a strip of meadow, making an angiy demonstration against my pad Elephant. He was 

 too much crippled to do harm however, and he soon lay down, and finally rolled over on his 

 side, apparently nearly at his last gasp. I was unwilling to spoil his skin by giving him 

 another shot, so I dismounted, and, standing close over him told my Shikari to finish him with 

 a blow on the head with a thick stick. On being struck, the Panther gave an angry growl 

 and struck at me with his claws, but his hind quarters being paralysed, he was unable to 

 spring at me. He was so close, however, and his attack was so sudden, that I fired from my 

 hip, smashing his shoulder to pieces, and singeing his fur. This effectually settled him. 



One cannot be too careful, when approaching seemingly dying animals : many lives have 

 been lost by neglecting the most ordinary precautions. 



