240 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
opposite direction from Berry’s position. He was 
of opinion that the tiger had not been disturbed by 
the close report of the rifle, as the noise of 164 
beaters shouting at the maximum power of their 
voices was so great that the extra sound of the rifle 
bore only a small proportion. 
We looked in vain for blood-tracks, and having 
come to the conclusion that Berry had fired too high 
in a moment of excitement, we now made the most 
careful arrangements for driving the jungle into 
which the tiger had so recently retreated. 
This formed a contrast to all others that we had 
beaten during the morning’s work, as it had not 
been burnt. The fire had stopped at a native foot¬ 
path, and instead of the bare ground, absolutely 
devoid of grass or dead leaves, the withered herbage 
as yellow as bright straw stood 3 feet high, and 
formed a splendid cover for animals of all kinds. I 
felt certain that the tiger would not leave so dense 
a covert without an absolute necessity; at the same 
time it was necessary to make a reconnaissance of 
the jungle before we could determine upon our 
operations. 
Mounting my elephant Moolah Bux, I begged 
Berry to take Demoiselle, and accompanied by a 
couple of good men we left the long line of beaters 
stationed in order of advance along the glade, with 
instructions to march directly that we should send 
them the necessary orders. I begged them upon 
this occasion not to shout, but merely to tap the 
trees with their sticks as their line came forward. 
