apture of tigers; to smear leaves with a sticky substance,
obtained from a plant resembling mistletoe, so that when a tiger or
bear trod upon them and, finding them sticking to his feet, paused
and rubbed these on his head, until he became blinded and
bewildered with a mass of sticky foliage, a well-placed shot would
stretch him dead.

[Illustration: For a year he worked with the shikaree.]

For a year he worked with the shikaree. Sometimes they hunted
simply for the value of the skins; but more often they were sent
for by villagers, who were suffering from the depredations of
tigers or leopards, and who were willing to pay for having them
killed. Harry Lindsay acquired quite a reputation in Jooneer and
the surrounding country, for the shikaree spoke freely of his
bravery, intelligence, and skill with his arms. His width of
shoulders and the strength of his muscles caused him to be regarded
as a prodigy; and it was generally considered that, when he grew
up, he would become a great fighter, and attain wide renown as a
leader of bands in the service of Holkar, or the Peishwa.

When he was sixteen, Sufder, who had watched his progress with
great approval, said to him:

"You are scarce a man in years yet, Puntojee; but you are strong,
skilful with your weapons, and far more of a man than many ten
years older than yourself. It is time that you should see something
of war. Since the death of Scindia, a few months back; and the
succession of his nephew Doulut, who is about your own age; things
have become even more unsettled than before. Scindia was a great
man and, although at times worsted by his rivals, always managed to
repair his fortunes and to add to his power; but whether the young
Scindia will keep the wide territory that his uncle won is
doubtful. Holkar, although at times he and Scindia united, as when
the English marched against Poona, has been his rival and enemy.

"The Peishwa has sometimes been in alliance with one of these great
princes, sometimes with the other. His minister, Nana Furnuwees, is
a man of commanding talent. Had it not been for him, it is probable
that Scindia and Holkar would long since have become altogether
independent; but he has always contrived to play one off against
the other and, by securing the services of the secondary chiefs,
such as the Rajah of Nagpore and the Rajah of Kolapoore, to hold
the balance of power; but he is an old man, and at his death there
is no saying how thin