VI 
THE TIGER 
231 
party, and the panther lost its hold; in another 
instant it disappeared in the dense jungle. 
I now changed my elephant, and rode a steady 
female (Nielmonne), and the line having re-formed, 
we advanced slowly through the bush. We had not 
gone 50 yards before the elephants scented the 
panther, and knowing the stealthy habits of the 
animal I formed a complete circle around the spot, 
and closed in until we at length espied the spotted 
hide beneath the bush. A charge of buckshot 
killed it without a struggle. 
According to my own experience, there can be no 
comparison in the sport of hunting up a tiger upon 
a good elephant in open country, and the more 
general plan of driving forest with guns placed in 
position before a line of beaters. By the former 
method the hunter is always in action, and in the 
constant hope of meeting with his game, while the 
latter method requires much patience, and too 
frequently results in disappointment. Neverthe¬ 
less, to kill tigers, every method must be 
adopted according to the conditions of different 
localities. 
Under all circumstances, if possible, a dependable 
elephant should be present, as many unforeseen cases 
may arrive when the hunter would be helpless in 
the absence of such an animal; but, as we have 
already seen, the danger is extreme should the 
elephant be untrustworthy, as a runaway beast may 
be an amusement upon open grass-land, but fatal to 
the rider in thick forest. 
