e that assistance might come to him."

"I can narrate a still more wonderful instance of the same power,"
observed one of the native gentlemen.

But as he spoke the lookout, turning round, said in a low whisper--

"Here comes the tiger, sahib!" and the sportsmen, springing from their
seats, seized their guns, ready to fire at the monster as soon as it
should come within range. At a leisurely pace the tiger trotted on, the
outline of its form seen clearly in the moonlight. It had just got
close to the water, when, Burnett firing, the monstrous brute rolled
over, casting a glance of defiance at the foe it had only then
discovered. A second shot laid it lifeless on the ground. Both
gentlemen reloaded; and Reginald proposed hurrying down to secure the
skin.

"We may very likely, if we do so, lose our own," observed the major.
"Let us wait, and before long we may add a few more tigers to our bag."

They were not disappointed. Another tiger and two panthers were shot.
This being the most accessible part of the bank for some distance, it
was evidently the watering-place of numerous wild animals. They had
just killed their third tiger, and were agreeing that it was time to
secure the skins and return home, when a fourth tiger appeared, stalking
leisurely out of the jungle towards the water, coming much nearer the
fort than any of the others had done. It stopped for a moment and
looked up at its foes, without exhibiting the alarm which the others had
displayed. Reginald declared that he caught the gleam of gold on its
neck.

"It may be an enchanted prince, then," said Burnett; "or, as our friends
here believe, the habitat of the soul of some great maharajah, who has
not laid aside all the trappings of royalty;--but we shall soon learn."

As he spoke, he raised his rifle to fire. The tiger at that moment,
however, gave a sudden bound and escaped the ball, and turning round,
frightened by the noise, sprang back quick as lightning into the jungle,
before any of the rest of the party could take steady aim.

No other wild beast appearing, the party descended; and while some kept
watch to shoot any which might come out of the jungle, the others
secured the skins of the beasts which had been slain. Packing them up
on the backs of the elephants, they returned to Major Sandford's
bungalow, well satisfied with their night's sport.

The next day they set out to visit the more distant part of the forest.
The party had fo