her magnificent
beast dashed out of the cover with a roar, and charged down upon us,
putting the line of elephants into such confusion that the aims of those
who had a chance were disarranged. Then there came a wild scream from
somewhere to our right, and we knew directly after that the tiger had
broken through the line, striking down one of the rajah's men as he
passed, and the poor fellow had to be bandaged by the doctor before he
was lifted on to one of the elephants, fainting from loss of blood.

"Will it kill him?" I said huskily, as we returned to our own howdah.

"Oh no," replied the doctor. "A nasty clawing; but these men get over
far worse wounds than that. There, keep your eyes open; we must try and
take revenge. I never feel any compunction in shooting a tiger. There
isn't room for them in a civilised land."

We were returning over the same ground now, with the beaters far behind,
and every bush, and tuft, and patch of dry grass was carefully searched
as hour after hour went by, and there was talk about a halt for lunch;
but with such a monster known to be somewhere in the gorge no one felt
disposed for anything but a refreshing cup of water, and downward we
went again.

The feeling was fast growing upon us that the tiger had gone right on
and out of the valley into the open country, when once more an elephant
trumpeted, and told of our being near the object of our search.

Heat and fatigue were forgotten directly, the elephants were urged on by
the mahouts, and cane-brake and reed-flat were searched, long grass was
ridden through, and for a couple of hours more we were on the tiptoe of
expectation, but found no tiger, till just as we were growing thoroughly
dispirited, and felt that we must be driving it lower and lower, and
helping it to escape, the monster bounded out from a cluster of loose
rocks, faced us, and rolled over at a shot from the doctor's rifle.

It sprang up again with a tremendous roar, and stood open-jawed, glaring
at us as if considering which it should attack, when the rajah and Brace
fired at the same time, and the monster rolled over again to struggle
feebly, and then stretched itself out--dead.

"Never mind, Vincent," said the doctor, clapping me on the shoulder; and
then addressing the others with us: "Your turn next; and you have been
in at the death."

"Look! look!" I cried suddenly.

"What is it?"

"On that little elephant coming up the valley; isn't it one of our