2i8 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA VS 
CHAP. 
the same time a tiger bounded forward, and galloped 
across the open grass-land in the direction of the 
neighbouring wild-rose covert. The scouts holloaed, 
waved their puggarees, and then rode after the tiger 
as hard as they could press their active elephants. 
My steed Thompson had behaved disgracefully, 
as he had again twisted suddenly round, and was so 
unsteady that although the tigress was not lo yards 
from me I had not the power of firing; I accordingly 
relinquished my favourite rifle '577, which I secured 
in the rack, and took in exchange my handy No. 
12 smooth-bore, which only weighed 7 lbs. With 
that light weapon I knew I could take a quick flying 
shot; the right - hand barrel was loaded with a 
spherical ball, and the left with if ounce S.S.G. 
shot and 4J drams of powder. To load a cartridge 
case (Kynoch’s brass) with this charge, and a very 
thick felt wad, it is necessary to fix the wad above 
the shot with thick gum, otherwise it will not contain 
the extra quantity. 
Upwards of an hour was passed in driving the 
second covert, but although we moved the tiger 
several times, it was impossible to obtain a shot, as 
the cunning brute, discovering our intentions, was 
determined not to break into the open near the 
elephant. At length, finding the impossibility of 
dislodging it, I put myself in the centre of the line, 
and left the end of the covert unguarded, so as to 
invite the tiger to make a dash through the interval 
to regain the former jungle. 
As we marched along, driving in a compact line. 
