The night was freezing and the very aged bearer, huddled inside his blanket, saton the edge of the palki door.

Suddenly the stillness of the evening was broken by a rapid crashthrough the dry grass near the palki, and with a thrilling roar atiger leapt at the man and dragged him away. The palki shook, andthe bearer's piteous cry "Babu-ji, Babu-ji, I told you" filled theforest, and echoed and echoed again as the tiger bore him away. Thenall became still.