ut hunting tigers on the back
of an elephant. He did not, however, bestride it as he would a horse,
but sat with one or two other persons in a sort of box, called a
_howdah_, fastened on the animal's back. The huge creature was guided
by a man called a _mahout_, seated on its neck, with a sharp-pointed
stick in his hand. To get into the _howdah_ a ladder is placed against
the animal's side, which stands perfectly quiet, till ordered by the
_mahout_ to move on.

"I have on several occasions travelled on the back of an elephant in a
much larger _howdah_ than is used for hunting, when I had a _chattah_ or
umbrella held over my head."

"But do the huge elephants gallop after the tigers?" asked Fanny.

"I should think not," observed Norman, now speaking for the first time.
"Papa used to carry a gun, and beaters and dogs went into the jungle to
drive out the tigers, and then he used to shoot them. He has often told
me about it, and promised to take me when I am big enough. I should
like to shoot a tiger."

"You would not like to see a tiger spring up at the _howdah_, and try to
drag you out of it, as happened when your papa was out shooting one day,
and the poor _mahout_ was so dreadfully torn that he died?" observed
Mrs Vallery. "Tiger shooting is a _very_ dangerous amusement, and I
was always anxious till your papa came back safe. It was no amusement
to me in the meantime."

"Women are silly things, and are always being afraid," said Norman, with
an impudent look.

"That was not a proper remark, Norman, and it was especially rude in you
to make it in our presence," observed Mrs Leslie.

"When I am big I intend to go out tiger shooting, and if other people
are afraid, I shall not be," persisted Norman.

His grandmamma made no further remark, but she cast a look of pity at
the boy.

"But are not the elephants frightened, mamma, when they see the tigers?"
asked Fanny, anxious to draw off attention from her brother.

"They are wise creatures, and seem to know that their riders have the
means of defending them, so that they very seldom run away," answered
Mrs Vallery, "occasionally they take flight. Nothing can be more
uncomfortable than having to sit on the back of an elephant under such
circumstances. The creature sticks out its trunk and screams as it
rushes onward, trampling down everything in its way. Should it pass
under trees, it happens occasionally that a branch sweeps its riders
with their _howda