CONSERVATORS’ WORK 163 
heard growling from a distance, and the nearer they 
came to their evening meal the more threatening 
was the attitude of the tiger to his mate: he was 
evidently insisting on his prior right to the meal. 
At 25 yards away he looked an evil beast that 
would be ready to attack on the slightest provoca- 
tion, over 8 feet in length, but slim, with the un- 
formed muscle of youth. The bullet struck him as 
he faced the “ machdn,” and, missing the cavity of 
the chest, ploughed through the shoulder muscles, 
and he retreated, growling angrily. 
Darkness had fallen before we returned to camp, 
and the carts were being loaded for the night march. 
The spare elephant had already gone on to the next 
camp when we started at daybreak to look up the 
wounded tiger. There was no blood after the first 
hundred yards, and tracking was slow as we travelled 
towards the swamp that lay to the north. So the 
morning was already well advanced when we arrived 
on its brink, and the grass and foliage was beginning 
to stir with the first wafts of the hot wind that 
would shortly blow with violence. We could see or 
hear nothing, but at a little distance in the grass 
was a small pool surrounded with unhealthy-looking 
trees, and on these sat some silent crows. We pro- 
ceeded to investigate the reason of their interest ; 
but before we reached the spot a heavy body came 
hurtling through the grass, passing within 6 feet, and 
coming to a standstill some 20 yards away. The tiger 
had charged an unseen foe, and, himself unseen, was 
now standing at bay. Merely to precipitate matters, a 
shot was fired in his direction, and it had that effect, 
for again there was a rush through the heavy grass, 
