Days And Nights of Shikar

lived in these jungles for years, but was far too wary ever to give a chance of a shot at him. Laximan, a forest guard, and a very keen shikari, said he had seen him, and his head was " so big," measuring off about eighteen inches between his hands to show us the size. Another man spread his hands farther apart and told us that was more the size, and another still wider, so that the tiger grew every minute and his head was well over a yard across before they had finished with him. Laximan said we should have a better chance of getting him in the hot weather, and if he could get his leave then he would go with me, if his sahib approved. When the time came my friend most kindly arranged matters about Laximan's leave, and also lent me his own tent, which was much larger than mine, for my sister, who had come out to visit us in India. When she and I were leaving the railway to start for our little camp, I remember there was rather a difficulty in finding enough coolies to carry out our kit, one or two important loads being left behind for some hours; so that when we reached the place we were tea-less and dinner was very late. While we were waiting and hungering some coolies brought us in a dozen peahen's eggs that they had found as they were coming along. Unfortunately they turned out to be very much sat on; too much so to eat as eggs, and not enough to eat as boiled chicken : so we were no better off. The men said they could not find the nest again to put t...