VII 
THE TIGER 
259 
nothing would induce a native to venture upon that 
fatal road with a single cart; it had therefore become 
the custom to travel in company with several carts 
together, as numbers were supposed to afford 
additional security. This proved to be a vain 
expectation, as the tiger was in no way perplexed 
by the arrangement; it bounded from the jungle 
where it had lain in waiting, and having allowed the 
train of carts to pass in single file, it seized the 
driver of the hindmost, and as usual carried the man 
away, in spite of the cries of the affrighted 
companions. 
Upon several occasions this terrible attack had 
been enacted, and the traffic was entirely stopped. 
A large reward was offered by the Government, but 
without effect; the man-eater never could be found 
by any of the shikaris. 
At length the Superintendent of Police, Mr. 
Duff, who unfortunately had lost one arm by a gun 
accident, determined to make an effort at its 
destruction, and he adroitly arranged a plan that 
would be a fatal trap, and catch the tiger in its own 
snare. He obtained two covered carts, each drawn 
as usual by two bullocks. The leading cart was 
fitted in front and behind with strong bars of lashed 
bamboo, which formed an impervious cage; in this 
the driver was seated, while Mr. Duff himself sat 
with his face towards the rear, prepared to fire 
through the bars should the tiger, according to its 
custom, attack the driver of the rearmost cart. This 
would have been an exciting moment for the driver. 
