V 
THE TIGER 
173 
As a rule, the slightest sound is sufficient to attract 
the attention of a driven tiger, as the animal is well 
aware that the shouts of a line of beaters are 
intended to scare it from the neighbourhood; it is 
accordingly' in high excitement, and it advances 
like a sly fox slowly and cautiously, occasionally 
stopping, and turning its head to listen to the cries 
of the approaching enemy. Any loud and sudden 
noise would induce it to turn and charge back 
towards the rear, in which case it is almost certain 
to escape from the beat. 
Some tigers are more clever than others, and 
having escaped upon more than one occasion, they 
will repeat the dodge that has hitherto succeeded. 
It is a common trick, should the jungle be dense 
and the ground much broken, for the tiger to crouch 
when it hears the beaters in the distance, instead of 
going forward in the direction of the guns. This 
is a dangerous stratagem, as the wary animal will 
lie quietly listening to the approaching line, and 
having waited until the beaters are within a few 
yards of its unexpected lair, it will charge back 
suddenly with a terrific roar, and dash at great speed 
through the affrighted men, perhaps seizing some 
unfortunate who may be directly in its path. I 
have known tigers that have been hunted many 
times, but who have always escaped by this peculiar 
dodge, and such animals are exceedingly difficult to 
kill. In such cases I am of opinion that no shouts 
or yells should be permitted, but that the line should 
advance, simply beating the stems of trees with their 
