Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12

tine nights 1eaSC, ana as IL Is desirable tna6
he should pass within fairly easy shot Of the
guns-for he gallops as fast as a race-horse
across any open Space-an ingenious system
has been devised for combining limiting
his avenues Of escape
A number Of white dummies, like elaborate
scarecrowS, painted to resemble men and
fixed on sticks are placed In lines along the
upper part Of the open rides These figures,
curiously enough, are known as the gentle
men," tiger has been known to charge
them, but, frightened by their extraordinary
immobility, to turn tail and bolt again. The
shikaris have the duty of placing the gentle
men" in position as quietly as possible; for
the least sound will make the quarry suspicious.
THE soldier-beaters next took up their
position, lining the sides of the mountain
about mile away from where the tigers had
last been seen. The best two tiger-elephants,
on one of which was my host and on the
other myself, picked their way like goats over
the boulders and rough ground into the middle
Of the rade. AS sooin as we were in position,
one single note on a bugle announced the
beginning Of the drive. and in complete silence
the line of heaters advanced. drive can be
quiet or noisy, according to circumstances.
When the appropriate signal Is given, the
whole array breaks out into loud shouts, which
add to the tense excitement Of the shoot.
The two gun elephants stood like rocks and
we ourselves remained motionless. As the drive
commenced saw long, yellow Sinking body
emerge from the jungle some 80 yards away
and crawl across to the next patch Of forest.
For a moment thought it was one of the
tigers, but the next instant recognized it as
q hyena. We were not after such humble game
and let him go. Next two magnificent sambhur,
the largest type Of Indian deer, appeared,
glanced around and dashed across the open
space.
At any moment now the tigers might appear,
but luck was against us and nothing happened.
It looked as though sport was over for the day,
and sorrowfully we gave up for the afternoon,
conSoling ourselves by sampling the excellent
contents of the tea basket carried on one Of the
invaluable elephants. While we were thus
gagged a shikari came running to say that q
party of the soldiers who were marching back
to camp had seen our two tigers high up the
mountain in another part of the jungle. They
were still visible from the road and were under
observation.
motor car was fortunately available as my
host and seized our rifles and cartridges
tumbled into it and dashed away IN a cloud Of
dust over the rough country road TO the point
where the soldiers were stin watching. There,
high up on the hillside, we saw not tigers but
two fine panthers, male and female, not q
bit alarmed by the distant movements on the
road below.
with open patches. Presently the male panther
sat down on his launches, for all the world
like dog, and looked at US from distance
Of about two hundred and fifty yards. I had
my rifle ready took quick aim and fired, hitting
him in the body, but rather low down. He
and his startled mate were off before there
was another chance of shot, but we marked
where they had gone and sent three elephants
up the mountain, supported by the small party
Of soldiers who had first seen the panthers.
ShikariS were dispatched in the other direction
to act as stops and prevent them breaking
away, and all we could do was to wait until
we got news.
This was not long in coming The Indian
lieutenant of the soldiers sent word down to
say that the panther had hit was lying
wounded about twenty yards from him. This
meant walking the animal up on foot, and
the Maharaja and myself, with our rifles.
left the motor car and scrambled up the
mountainside until we came to the place in
dictated.
In the excitement, had forgotten my field
glasses, but in the dim light Of the thick
jungle on the other side of the little nullah,
we could see the tail and headquarters of the
panther lying quite still in small cave under
bank. I felt sure I could make out his
shoulder-the most vulnerable Spot-and al
though my host thought he was already dead,
I suggested that should take shot, Aiming
carefully at what I supposed was his shoulder
fired twice-and at the second shot the
panther was up and off like o flash Of
lightning, into the thicket again.
WHAT had happened was that his shoulder
was hidden by q boulder but the light
and shade Of the sun shining through the
foliage made the rock look like part Of his
touching the panther.
without any loss Of time we climbed on to q
pad-elephant, which took us through the
thtcket toward where our quarry had last been