The National tribune., 1899-07-13

roundingS in every minutest detail, and
after a slight framework of bamboo Stri pS is
laid the soil around and everything Oh 1t
must be imitated-reproduced exactly.
Bait is placed ont of reach except by
Gro SSing the space intended TO give way,
and this snare is often set before an out
cropping rock, or embankment at whose
| foot some small tethered animal stands
upol a narrow margin OF firm ground; II
no natural adjunct lends itself 10 these
purposes. artificial means to the same ends
| are ingenious!y deviSed-thorn bushes
planted or any effective obstacles arranged.
Now nothing remains but to oblterate all
| traces Of human presence. and the trap is
| sat-although this is not the only one en-
ployed.
| Most frequently il fails with tigers; yet
no tiger is wise at all timeS-the most wary,
are subject to occasional inadvertenceS, and
through importunate appetites or headleSs-
| ness some get caught. Usually their trail
reveals what has taken place. This ter
| rible hunter comes stealing through the
shades, sees goat but knows it is out Of
place-recogniZes it as having no business
to be there. He circles around with that
pleasant grin Of his, and takes in the situ-
alton. Then adieu 10 Stripes" Panthers
have less caution. They are, in fact,
characteristically daring. These animals
can plan an attack; yet their disregard Of
risks often amounts 10 recklessness. When
this prowling robber arrives, bloOd-luSt
soon predominateS over any considerations
not involved with its qualification. His
fierce temper urges him on, and he is lost.
| Not for two days after did we meet with
any wild dogs, ard then the encounter was
an accidental one. Three of us were pot
hunting-tO express our occupation in ap-
propriate termS-and although each mans
gun-bearer carried his masters rife as a
matter Of course, the spOrtsmen had pro-
vided themselves with smoothbores We
made good Shooting-partridge guinea
fowl and fiorican abounded. Our success led
us on, and the days tramp grew longer
than any one had anticipated. Still, even
ing was not come, and deer were yet lying
up in their coverts; so when one of our Keen
sighted attendants viewed a sambur stag
glance across an opening in the woods
some distance ahead, all knew he must be
pursued. 1T is said that tigers occasionally
chase game, but there seems to be no proof
of an assertion so improbable. When not
attacking from ambush this beast makes
a rush, and so far as certainly known that
is all hunting leopard does, though its
burst is more prolonged. Only wolves or
wild dogs really follow prey, and it was
with anticipatio2S that these latter were
doing so now we hastened on to intercept
/ them. But while still far from its canine
foes this deer got struck down by tiger
that knew nothing Of their proximity.
Lions, tigers, and panthers are nocturnal
animals; nevertheless, they do not always
hunt at night.
W
sambur'S body, and found that those
tracks lying around it told a strange story.
i They showed how his aSsailant burst out Of
a tamarisk brake, sprung upon him, ard
began to eat, as tigers generally do at the
4 haunch. Pretty soon, however, this fierce
hunter must have become aware Of the
packs approach for he hastily abandoned
his prey, though evidently not before being
seen or scented; since these wild dogs lett
their quarry awhile TO follow. Affairs
int inf
we knew the big cats structure pre-
vented its going both far and fast, and were
therefore sure il must soon come TO bay.
4 considerable distance had TO be ira
vcrsed, and that slowly, before reaching
the meeting place OF these enemies
! Stripes" being an admirable strategist took
a route leading through thick Jungle, where
! ! his pursuerS' superior speed could not
come into play. Finally, however. sounds
lOf conflict made themselves heard: but only
. from one side, the other being mute. Short,
quickly-repcatcd roarS such as tigers utter
= when actually fighting rcSoUnded through
the forest, and we quickly caught sight of
! this one backed against Il rock, while the
: pack ragged around. Unfortunately our
1 chance for witnessing so rare ard interest
) ing . scene WAS spoiled by an accident.
= just on the edge Of that opea where those
r cOmbatautS we've engaged. a native, in
9 cautiously carrying one q. Ine SiiotgunS at
tllI cock. C:-,!gat his TOO: IL some trailing
! vine. stumbled forward. aud discharged
. bo-h barre. HO;tiiifirS ceased Instantly.
r. or ". II t-.c5e wild dogs III one direction,
4, TIE grr difappeafed IN another. Two or
: three Sr::p Shots secured a couple Of fox
Ike Creatures altogether corresponding
i w!;h HAT co5cri !tioI ui the Central Indian
i variety already given; nevertheless. their
g SKINS poorly rc2ompcnsed us for losing a
! spectacle Scaroe.y 10 he seen in an ordinary
/ sDortSmaa's life. What would have been
0 the issue Of this fight it is impossible TO say.
II llGSG beasts were certainly h1ltlnp flil-
: grown tiger, and none had been killed
;; We assured ourselves, however, that the
S much-talked-of collision really occurs, and
r wild dogs, at least on some occasions, are
= aggressors; so it may well be with regard TO
o her points, that those strange tales told
e by Hindus contain much truth.
y Go be continued)