The National tribune., 1899-07-27

neer, and changes HIS position with an
intention to battle pursuit.
Hunting q rogue elephant is much like
going on an expedition in actual war.
Every detail of equipment should be per-
fected before starting; for there is no rest
after that-no time toremedy overslghtS or
make up deficiencies. In such country as
this we might be out an indefinite period
before coming TO close quarters with our
game, and things were by no means ready
for that.
Thus. after considerable discussion, the
mess decided to await events. Those
GoHds spoken of had been brought back
with lis, fed, some presents bestowed on
them; they were told to spread abroad our
willingness 10 pay for intelligence, and
assure everybody that We stood ready to
give help in any emergency which might
arise. Moreover, if this animal was real
rogue, there could be no doubt at all about
what he would do.
Only some few aboriginal communities
lay scattered here and there i'll mountain
valleys; but these were sure TO attract him.
Too few people inhabited this section for
such atrocities as have often taken place In
India; Still, the brute was certain to do its
best in murdero,lS way, and aided by an
entire population then living under reign
of terror, our chances for encounterinG this
pest must prove far better than they could
possibly be now. Really, a search at that
time seemed preposterous, when none knew
| where to look for what We sought.
Furthermore, that murder of the Gond
woodcutter may have been an unpremedit
tated act Of some old tusker expelled from
his herd, or leading a solitary life from
choice. Plenty Of elephants like this exist
and very frequently they are vicious, but
only by fits and starts; whereas genuine,
| Misunderstanding rogue, never stops killing
| until he is killed.
There was darker deed we had vet to
| a b1I1t tho GiEa nf uyf,i mr. ma IN kac
| part IN twice during his life, lay before us;
| but these were Still TO come, and now Khu-
| deck came into the mess tent with news.
klubber, he called it, and delivered himself
as follows: "Jey Mata! victory TO the Mother
She it is who hath permitted this dust-like
person to deliver family of tigers into his
Lord s. hands. That afflicted thief, brother
to him slain by the elephant, being in one
OF his better moments, gave n hint, and
truly your servant has profted thereby.
There is the old accursed one himself, that
daughter of vile mother his wife, and a
bagh Ia butcha, a young tiger-very
impious. They live in an island OF the
| Ruk QoresO which is surrounded by open
plains, and like all tigers will stay at that
place which has been selected until ex-
PEELED. Thanks TO the good God, these
infamous ones can be hunted with ee
phants-those sent by Eshsmitt Sahib and
all our own. Your slave has seen the
spot; everything shall be prepared-futtei
ba bundobust, arrangements secure vic
Il tory"
AS usual all the important matter in this
: recital of our infinitely self-suffcent, otter
; preposterous Khudeck, was true. NJ
: question as TO his being an adept existed
, so at length we were literally 10 take tn,
, field; try, as several of us had done before
what is certainly the most picturesque anC
imposing. If not most deeply impressive
| kind of tiger hunting. Many tale o
reminiscence brought to mind by viviC
| anticipations of coming adventures passet
, round our table that night. and the rogu,
| elephant, with his prospective career, wer,
temporarily forgotten.
ITO he contipped