But
here we are. That is the nullah in which they say the tiger retires
at night. I expect the beaters are lying all round in readiness,
and as soon as we have taken up our station at its mouth they will
begin."
A shikari came up as they approached the spot.
"The tiger went out last night, sahib, and finished the cow; he
came back before daylight, and the beaters are all in readiness to
begin."
The elephants were soon in position at the mouth of the ravine,
which was some thirty yards across. At about the same distance in
front of them the jungle of high, coarse grass and thick bush began.
"If you were going to shoot, Bathurst, we would take post one each
side, but as you are not going to I will place myself nearly in
the center, and if you are between me and the rocks the tiger is
pretty certain to go on the other side, as it will seem the most
open to him. Now we are ready," he said to the shikari.
The latter waved a white rag on the top of a long stick, and at
the signal a tremendous hubbub of gongs and tom toms, mingled with
the shouts of numbers of the men, arose. The Doctor looked across
at his companion. His face was white and set, his muscles twitched
convulsively; he was looking straight in front of him, his teeth
set hard.
"An interesting case," the Doctor muttered to himself, "if it had
been anyone else than Bathurst. I expect the tiger will be some
little time before it is down. Bathurst," he said, in a quiet
voice.
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