to do, as if about to seize him. Still he persevered, wishing, if
possible, to capture the animal alive. Speaking to her in a soothing
voice, he got near her head, holding his rifle in such a position that
he might fire in a moment, should she turn round and attempt to seize
him; she was, however, too much hurt to move. Gradually he got close to
her head, when, stooping down, he first patted it gently, still uttering
the same soothing words. At first, while he continued to stroke it, she
looked up suspiciously at him, as if to ask what he wanted; but soon
understanding that his motives were friendly, she ceased her cries. At
length she put out her lacerated limb, and seemed to ask him to do what
he could to relieve her pain. He fortunately had a flask of spirits in
his pocket, with which he bathed her foot; and then, taking out a
handkerchief, he carefully bound it up. It seemed at once to relieve
the animal of pain; and all the natural ferocity of her countenance
disappearing, she cast at him a look full of gratitude, while she
attempted to lick his hand.

Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the shikaree wallah and his
companion,--who had during the time retired to a respectful distance,--
when they saw the tigress get up and slowly follow Reginald, as a dog
does its master. She, however, would not allow them to approach her,
but snarled in a way which made them immediately take to flight.
Reginald on this called them back, and stroking the head of the tigress,
tried to make her understand that she was to treat them as friends. She
understood him; and when they came near she no longer showed any signs
of wishing to hurt them.

"Why, sahib," exclaimed the shikaree wallah, "see! She is not a wild
tigress after all. There is a golden collar round her neck. She must
have belonged to some great rajah, and made her escape from his palace."

On a closer examination, Reginald discovered what the quick eye of the
native had detected, a band of gold, partly hidden by the creature's
hair.

"There cannot be a doubt, then, that she is the very animal we saw last
night," observed Reginald. "She is my property now, at all events; and
I feel very sure that she will follow no one else."

By this time the shouts and cries of the beaters ceased to reach their
ears, and Reginald knew that they must have gone in a different
direction to that which he had followed. Several shots, however, the
sound of which came from