264 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
bullet would either fall from the hide, or in some 
way miss the object. He declared that upon 
several occasions he had himself obtained a shot, 
like everybody else, but it was useless, therefore he 
had long since ceased to take the trouble. This 
was rather interesting, and added to the excitement. 
At daybreak on the following morning my eager 
shikari with several natives arrived, with news that 
the buffalo was killed and dragged into a dry bed 
of a rocky nullah within the jungle; and from the 
high bank they had seen the tiger devouring the 
hind-quarters. This was satisfactory, although I 
was afraid that the tiger might have been disturbed 
by the inquisitiveness of the people ; however, they 
laughed at the suggestion, and the beaters being 
ready, we sallied out to make a drive for a hopeless 
beast that was possessed by the devil. 
The natives had been accustomed for so many 
years to act as beaters for this well-known animal 
that they had not the slightest nervousness ; they 
knew the ground thoroughly, and the old mucharns, 
which had been vainly occupied so often, had simply 
been strengthened, but were ready in their original 
positions. 
We had a large force of men, and several shikaris 
of long experience in the locality ; it was accord¬ 
ingly a wise course to remain silent, as the people 
would have been confused by unnecessary orders. 
Having left the line of men in position, we were 
taken about a mile in advance. I had given my 
shikari a double-barrelled gun, and I ordered him to 
