212 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
the grass in front. He fired ; a tremendous roar 
was the response, and the tiger, bounding forward, 
appeared as though he would assuredly cross my 
path. Instead of this, after a rush of about 50 or 
60 yards I saw the tall grass only gently moving, 
as the animal had reduced its pace to the usual 
stealthy walk. The grass ceased moving in a spot 
within 30 paces, and exactly opposite my position. 
I marked a bush upon which were a few green shoots 
that had sprouted since the fire had scorched the 
grass. I was certain that the tiger had halted 
exactly beneath that mark. My mahout drove the 
elephant slowly and carefully forward, and I was 
standing ready for the expected shot, keeping my 
eyes well open for an expected charge ; Sanderson 
was closing in upon the same point from his position. 
Presently, when within a few feet of the green bush, 
I distinguished a portion of the tiger, but I could 
not determine whether it was the shoulder or 
the hind-quarter. Driving the elephant steadily 
forward, with the rifle to my shoulder, I at length 
obtained a complete view. The tiger was lying 
dead ! 
Sanderson’s last shot had hit it exactly behind 
the shoulder; but the first right and left had missed 
when the tiger charged down the line, exemplifying 
the difficulty of shooting accurately with an elephant 
moving in high excitement. 
We now loaded an elephant with this grand beast 
and started it off to camp, where Lady Baker had 
already received two leopards. We had done pretty 
