y, me and my brother Peter was throwing sods at an old tomcat
of my mother's, who had stolen our dinners, and it ran up a wall ten
feet high. Well, yer honor, the tiger is as big as a hundred tomcats,
and by the same token he ought to be able to run up a wall--"

"A thousand feet high, Tim? He can't do that. Indeed, I question
whether he could run up much higher than a cat.

"We are to start this evening, and shall be there by midnight. The
elephants have gone on ahead."

At sunset the party started. It consisted of Ramajee Punt, one of his
favourite officers, and a score of soldiers. An officer had already
gone on, to enlist the services of the men of two or three villages as
beaters. A small but comfortable tent had been erected for the party,
and supper prepared.

The native shikari, or sportsman of the neighbourhood, had brought in
the news that tigers were plentiful; and that one of unusual size had
been committing great depredations; and had, only the day before,
carried off a bullock into the thickets, a mile from the spot at which
they were encamped.

"The saints preserve us!" Tim said, when he heard the news; "a cat big
enough to carry off a mouse in her mouth as big as a bullock."

"It seems almost impossible, Tim, but it is a fact that tigers can
carry in their mouths full-sized bullocks, for considerable distances,
and that they can kill them with one stroke of their paw. However,
they are not as formidable as you would imagine, as you will see,
tomorrow."

In the morning the elephants were brought out. Charlie took his place
in the front of a howdah, with Tim behind him. Three rifles were
placed in the seat, and these Tim was to hand to his master, as he
discharged them. Ramajee Punt and his officer were also mounted on
elephants, and the party started for their destination.

"It's as bad as being at sea, Mr. Charles," Tim said.

"It does roll about, Tim. You must let your body go with the motion,
just as on board ship. You will soon get accustomed to it."

On reaching the spot, which was a narrow valley, with steep sides
running up into the hill, the elephants came to a stand. The mouth of
the valley was some fifty yards wide, and the animal might break from
the trees at any point. The ground was covered with high, coarse
grass.

Ramajee Punt placed himself in the centre, assigning to Charlie the
position on his right, telling him that it was the best post, as it
was on this side the tiger ha