XI 
THE BEAR 
409 
will break, and which is terribly dangerous should 
a runaway elephant attempt to penetrate it, as the 
hard wiry branches would lacerate a rider in a 
frightful manner. There were numerous ravines 
in this forest, and we kept along the margin, slowly 
and cautiously, peering at the same time into the 
depths, in the expectation of seeing the wandering 
tiger. 
It was very perplexing ; sometimes we heard 
the cry of the tiger in one direction, and upon 
reaching the spot, we heard it at a different place. 
I was determined not to give it up, and we worked 
for at least two hours, until we had thoroughly 
examined every ravine, and all the smaller nullahs 
that would have been likely hiding-places. “ Past 
five o’clock,” I exclaimed, upon looking at my 
watch. It was time to turn homewards, as it would 
be dark at six, and should we be benighted in the 
forest we should not find our way, neither would 
it be possible to ride an elephant, owing to the 
thick bamboo. We accordingly gave up our search 
for the tiger, and steered in a new direction towards 
the camp. 
We had advanced for about half an hour through 
the gloomy forest, and were within about f of 
a mile in a direct line of the tents, when I observed 
a peculiarly dark shadow upon my right, about 
35 yards distant, close to a dense mass of feathery 
bamboos. I stopped the elephant for an instant, 
and at the same moment the black mass moved 
away towards the thick cover of the foliage. 
