152 FOREST LIFE AND SPORT IN INDIA 
itself. On either side the fortifications stretched 
away till lost in the evening gloom; the bushes 
near at hand took on ghostly shapes against the 
dark background of trees; from the distance came 
the sound of voices and of cattle returning to the 
shelter of the villages ; in front, a winding pathway 
led to the ruins of the ancient citadel, and imagina- 
tion peopled it with thréngs of men in chain-armour, 
with round shields slung over the shoulder and sharp 
“tulwars” ready on the thigh. The jungle-cocks 
had uttered their last shrill challenge, and the 
rustling of the roosting peafowl had died away in 
the branches of the high trees. A fishing-owl was 
anticipating good hunting with deep booming notes, 
when a movement was observed on the shadowy 
path. It took no shape or form in the dim light, 
nor was there any sound to guide the eye, already 
strained with watching. The apparition must be 
left to declare itself either jungle animal or jungle 
spirit, for no human being would silently roam this 
spot at night. Gradually a grey outline was defined 
against the blacker background, so close as to call 
for instant action, and a flashlight picture was imme- 
diately impressed on the brain, of a tiger rearing 
high in the air, and then smiting the earth with his 
fore-paws as if to annihilate an enemy. In the black 
darkness that followed the flash of the rifle the 
thudding of feet was heard, as the beast sprang up 
the bank and disappeared behind me. 
The morrow was occupied in tracking around the 
fort and in the steep ravines in the neighbourhood, 
but no glimpse of the animal was obtained. The 
following day we resumed the search, and found and 
