I tramped along with the shikari at my side, recalling many scenes in
which old Charlie had been my companion at school and at Oxford and in
after-life. I scarcely thought of the extreme danger of the enterprise
upon which the shikari and I were now engaged, my mind being otherwise
occupied; but when we came near the place, and the native, looking
frightened and positively trembling as he spoke, whispered that here,
within twenty-five yards, was the spot where the tiger had sprung upon
the Sahib, I suddenly realised that we were about to meet a crisis in
our lives.

'Have your rifle ready,' I whispered back, 'and look all ways at once.
If you see the tiger, fire at the same instant.'

We reached the spot where the scuffle had taken place. The grass was
trampled and broken, and there were marks of a struggle. A yard or two
further on lay Charlie's helmet, with puggaree attached, and a scrap of
his clothing fluttered in the midst of a thorny bush, through which, I
suppose, he had been dragged. The jungle became denser at this point
with every step forward, and we advanced inch by inch, very slowly, very
cautiously, feeling that we carried our lives in our hands, for a
wounded tiger lying hid in the cover, with so much energy left in him as
this beast presumably still possessed, since he had carried Charlie's
body away with him, is one of the most dangerous things that a man can
face. I need not tell you fellows that, however, both of you being
experienced hunters. Probably, being wounded, the tiger would not travel
far. Of course, there was only the shikari's word for it that he _was_
wounded; but, in any case, being burdened with the body of a
twelve-stone man, he would not go further than he need. So we crept
slowly forward.

It, was a gruesome experience. To tell the truth, I was almost more
afraid that I should suddenly come upon the body of poor Eccles lying
across our pathway, than of hearing the terrible roar of the wounded
tiger and seeing him crouch to spring upon us. Expecting him, as I did,
at every second, it would be hard if I could not get in my shot before
he could get in his spring.

The track was easily followed. A great beast cannot drag another large
creature through grass and plants of all kinds without leaving behind
pretty evident signs of his passing. We had gone forward--creeping
almost as noiselessly as snakes--some quarter of a mile, scarcely more,
when suddenly the most astonishing thing hap