e all exclaimed, getting excited at once. He pointed in
front to a large object, looking for all the world like a huge dun
cow.

'Why, you fool, that is a bullock.' I exclaimed.

My bearer, who had also been intently gazing, now said.

'No, sahib! that is a tiger, and a large one.'

At that moment, it turned partly round, and I at once saw that the men
were right, and that it was a veritable tiger, and seemingly a monster
in size. I at once called to Captain S. and the magistrate, who had by
this time fallen a little behind.

'Look out, you fellows! here's a tiger in front.'

At first they thought I was joking, but a glance confirmed the truth
of what I had said. When I first saw the brute, he was evidently
sneaking after the cattle, and was about sixty paces from me. He was
so intent on watching the herd, that he had not noticed our approach.
He was now, however, evidently alarmed and making off. By the time I
called out, he must have been over eighty yards away. I had my No. 12
in my hand, loaded with shot; it was no use; I put it down and took up
my No. 16; this occupied a few seconds; I fired both barrels; the
first bullet was in excellent line but rather short, the second went
over the animal's back, and neither touched him. It made him, however,
quicken his retreat, and when Captain S. fired, he must have been
fully one hundred and fifty yards away; as it was now somewhat dusky,
he also missed. He fired another long shot with his rifle, but missed
again. Oh that unlucky change of cartridges in my No. 12! But for
that--but there--we are always wise after the event. We never expected
to see a tiger in such open country, especially as we had been over
the same ground before, firing pretty often as we came along.

We followed up of course, but it was now fast getting dark, and though
we beat about for some time, we could not get another glimpse of the
tiger. He was seemingly a very large male, dark-coloured, and in
splendid condition. We must have got him, had it been earlier, as he
could not have gone far forward, for the lines of fire were beyond
him, and we had him between the fire and the elephants. We got home
about 6.30, rather disappointed at missing such a glorious prize, so
true is it that a sportsman's soul is never satisfied. But we had rare
and most unlooked-for luck, and we felt considerably better after a
good dinner, and indulged in hopes of getting the big fellow next
morning.

In the same ju