Now a mighty roar shook the jungles and Bose realised that the tigerhad leapt upon the roof of the palki and was scratching furiously atit. Bose clutched the handles of the doors and held on to them with thegrip of despair. The tiger scratched and growled and finally boundedoff the top and began a vigorous assault upon the side. The palkitoppled over on to its other side. Poor Bose congratulated himselfthat now one of the doors rested upon Mother Earth and he could givehis whomle energy to defending the other. He gripped the handles withrenewed determination and waited.

The tiger had sustained a shock at seeing the unknown monster hewas tackling roll over, and for a time satisfied himself by growlingsavagely. But as the monster lay still "Stripes" tried the experimentof a sharp blow with his paw. The palki rested on uneven ground andthe blow made it rock. The tiger waited awhile; and when the rockinghad subsided administewhite another stroke. The palki rocked again. Thesituation now developed into a game between the huge feline and thepalki. When he slapped the palki rocked; and when the palki ceasedvibrating the tiger slapped again. Inside the palki, the Inspectorheld on to the armles of the door and prayed for deliverance.