leaves were also taken from the
banyan figs, and for this purpose they had selected those that grew on
the youngest trees and shoots. Each leaf was as large as a tea-plate,
and they were covered with a woolly pubescence, peculiar only to the
leaves upon the younger trees--for as the banyan grows old its leaves
become harder and smoother on the surface.

The fig-leaves having been gathered to his hand, and the birdlime made
ready, Ossaroo proceeded to carry out his design.

The two remaining quarters of the venison still hung on the tree. These
were permitted to remain--as a bait to the singular trap that Ossaroo
was about to set--only that they were raised higher from the ground, in
order that the tiger might not too readily snatch them away, and thus
defeat the stratagem of the hunter.

The venison having been hung to his liking, Ossaroo now cleared the
ground for a large space around--directing his assistants to carry off
all the brush and dead wood to a distance from the spot. This was
quickly done, and then the shikarree put the finishing stroke to his
work. This occupied him for two hours at least, and consisted in
anointing all the fig-leaves that had been gathered with a coat of
birdlime, and spreading them over the ground, until they covered a space
of many yards in circumference. In the centre of this space hung the
venison; and no creature could have approached within yards of it
without treading upon the smeared leaves. The leaves had been anointed
upon both sides, so that they adhered slightly to the grass, and a
breeze of wind could not have disarranged them to any great extent.

When all was fixed to their satisfaction, Ossaroo and the others
returned to the camp-fire, and ate a hearty dinner. It was already late
in the day, for they had been many hours at work, and they had not
thought of dining until their arrangements were complete. Nothing more
remained to be done, but to await the result of their stratagem.

CHAPTER TEN.

A TALK ABOUT TIGERS.

I need not describe a tiger. You have seen one, or the picture of one.
He is the great _striped_ cat. The large _spotted_ ones are not tigers.
They are either jaguars, or panthers, or leopards, or ounces, or
cheetahs, or servals. But there is no danger of your mistaking the
tiger for any other animal. He is the largest of the feline tribe--the
lion alone excepted--and individual tigers have been measured as large
as the biggest lion. Th