India and Tiger-Hunting (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1885. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. HE panther whose destruction I have just recorded, JL was certainly the longest, if not the heaviest, that I ever saw, whilst the next which we killed near the same spot, a few days afterwards, was one of the two smallest adult specimens I had ever seen or heard of. Having again gone out to Murree, and thence walked forth into the hills, in exactly the same manner as has already been described, we found the panther marked down in such an unusually rough and thickly-planted ravine, that the exact bush in which she was reclining could not be intimated by the signallers. We therefore stood about in such positions as seemed most advisable, whilst some thirty or forty beaters, commencing from the precipitous heights above, came towards us, hurling showers of stones, and making such a terrific row as to ensure the animal moving on before them. And sure enough, before long the panther was dislodged, as we knew by the increased acrimony of the shrieking, swelling as it did into a perfect chorus of ' Bagh! Bagh!' Each grasped his rifle, not knowing exactly from which point the animal might suddenly bound upon him. No. one, however, was destined to be clawed yet, for the beast was only viewed as it rushed past our posts at full speed. There was a great deal of firing, but though some of the party were remarkably good shots, fortune declared for the other side, and the panther, though wounded, and, I think, with a broken leg, vanished with the speed of a racehorse. Since all had failed to bag the animal, no one could reproach his neighbour, that was some comfort, and we all set off in pursuit without wasting any time in words. I forget if the dogs were with us on that day, if so, they found no opportunity of distinguishing themselves; but I may mention that it ...