VI 
THE TIGER 
217 
elephant whisked suddenly round ; this prepared rhe 
for a display of his nervousness. Again the rose 
bushes moved, and I distinctly observed a yellowish 
body stealing beneath the tangled mass; it was 
quickly lost to sight. The line of beating elephants 
was coming slowly forward, crashing their way 
through the bush, and occasionally giving a shrill 
scream, when again I saw the bushes move ; with¬ 
out further introduction a very large tigress gave 
two or three roars, and rushed out of the jungle 
exactly opposite my position, straight at my 
elephant. Before I had time to raise my rifle, the 
elephant spun round as though upon a pivot, and 
ran off for a few paces, making it impossible for me 
to fire. The tiger, probably alarmed, turned back 
into the secure fortress of wild rose. 
We now knew that the tiger was positively 
between the line of elephants and myself. I felt 
sure that it would not show again at the same place ; 
I therefore selected a favourable spot about 100 
yards to my left upon some slightly rising ground, 
and the elephants wheeled and beat directly towards 
me. 
Nothing moved except pigs, which all broke 
back at a wild rush between the elephants’ legs, two 
of which had slight cuts from the tusks of boars, 
which had made a spiteful dig at the opposing legs 
whilst passing. 
At length the line arrived within 20 yards from 
the margin of the thick jungle; here a regular rush 
took place ; several hog-deer dashed back, but at 
