ur elephants. Reginald and Burnett, with their friend,
and several native gentlemen, were seated in howdahs on the backs of the
elephants. The howdah is something like the body of a carriage, with an
awning to shield the occupants from the heat of the sun.
Gorgeously-ornamented cloths covered the backs of the huge animals,
while the mahouts sat on their necks, to direct them where to go and
what to do. Reginald, not accustomed to that style of shooting, thought
it very dull work, and longed to be on foot, where he could encounter
the savage monsters face to face.

On reaching the jungle, the elephants moved along the borders to some
distance, while beaters, with loud shouts, endeavoured to dislodge any
tiger which might be lurking there. At length up went the trunks of the
elephants,--a sure sign that they had discovered a tiger at no great
distance. The brute, seeing so many enemies, had apparently no stomach
for the fight, and was observed stealing off amid the jungle. Three or
four shots were fired at it, but so rapid and eccentric were its
movements that it escaped them all. As no other tiger appeared,
Reginald at last proposed to Burnett that they should seek the savage
brutes in their lairs. Burnett agreed, but cautioned him to be on the
alert, and to keep his attendants close to him, with their rifles
loaded, that he might have another weapon at hand should he fail to kill
the animal at the first shot.

"Remember, your life may depend on it; for, believe me, a wounded tiger
is the most dangerous of antagonists."

Dismounting from the elephants which had carried them to the borders of
the jungle, each gentleman, attended by a native carrying an additional
gun, approached the jungle, into which the beaters fearlessly threw
themselves. The forest was tolerably thick, so that they soon by some
chance became separated. Reginald, hearing the beaters, and believing
that they were driving a tiger towards him, made his way onward to a
spot from whence he believed that he should have an opportunity of
firing to advantage. It was near the river, with a small open space in
front of him, through which there was every probability that the tiger
would make its way. He took his post behind a thick tree, which would
afford him shelter should he fail to bring down the animal at the first
shot; while he charged his attendants to keep a watchful eye around,
lest the creature might come out behind him. Scarcely had he