174 TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS 
were well put up at the back, outside of the fire, and 
that allowed more men to strengthen the sides. I 
was taking no chances of escape. I had two head- 
men get up on the elephant I had come on, and told 
the driver to back a short distance, as I wanted the 
headmen to shoot off their guns from the elephant’s 
back, in order to watch the effect on the elephant. 
I told them to each fire his gun off on opposite 
sides but not at the same instant. Well, he never 
moved, and when those muzzle-loading flintlocks 
go off they certainly kick and make a startling noise. 
After that test I was satisfied to take the chance 
and told the Tungku that Ali and myself were going 
in after the tiger, and that he and his two headmen 
must keep a sharp lookout from the platform and 
have their guns trained on the opening. The ma- 
hout was a plucky fellow and felt very proud, assur- 
ing me he could handle his elephant. 
I passed the word for all the men to be on the look- 
out and allow the fire on the right side to die out, to 
keep together, and those of the headmen who had 
guns should shoot if the tiger tried to break through. 
As soon as the fires had died down, I told the driver 
to go ahead and keep to the right side. When on an 
elephant in fair ground, the object should be to get 
the tiger to charge instead of letting him sneak 
away, for the hunt is then ended in a short and 
exciting encounter, but if once let away it may be 
hours before he is found again, if he ever is at all. 
