A sign from Kalagani, who was ready to climb his rock, told us to be on our guard. We guessed that the precipitate flight of the jackals must have been caused by the approach of some savage animal—the tigress no doubt—so that we were ready to see her at any moment appear on one side or other of the glade.
Our guns were all ready. Captain Hood and his man held their weapons pointed at the place from which the jackals had issued.
Very soon I saw a slight agitation among the upper branches of the thicket. The snapping of dry wood was also heard. Some animal was approaching, but slowly and warily. Though evidently seeing nothing of the hunters in wait among the branches, its instinct warned it that the place was not quite safe. Certainly, unless urged by hunger, and attracted by the smell of
