154 FOREST LIFE AND SPORT IN INDIA 
ordained to failure. Abdul, however, took a delight 
in attempting the impossible, and one morning 
announced that this panther’s hour had come. It 
did not so seem to us when we saw the “machén” 
tied amongst a group of saplings, and visible enough 
even when empty; but it was explained that the 
undergrowth was thick, and that there was a better 
chance than was apparent. The panther put in an 
early appearance, but though we were able to remark 
his size and the paleness of his colouring, indicating 
age, he showed no hurry to approach within shot, 
and kept us in a state of tense excitement for some 
time. It is well on such occasions to decide before- 
hand at what point the shot will be fired, and to 
have the rifle in readiness pointed in that direction ; 
for it is impossible to raise the weapon suddenly 
without being instantly detected, while, on the other 
hand, to keep a heavy rifle to the shoulder for any 
length of time is trying. This panther at last 
approached the line of fire, stood for some time on 
the alert, then proceeded to cross it, and lay dead in 
his tracks. The villagers came afar to see him lying 
in state, and each had some tale to tell of goats, of 
calves, even of cows, killed during the years gone 
past. 
Here also we made experiments in the climbing 
powers of panthers, fixing the kill in a branchless 
sapling some 15 feet from the ground, and thence 
the panther recovered it with ease. We secured it 
still higher, and watched in the hope that we might 
see how the panther severed the rope to reach his 
prey ; and while waiting, lo! an unexpected tigress 
appeared on the scene, gazing with an indifferent 
