Going over a ridge, we lost the trail, and though we spread out and searched very carefully, it was nearly an hour before we could resume the pursuit.

Every minute seemed an age, as we well knew that the tiger would thus gain time to devour his prey.

Probably I was less agitated than the natives, but I freely and gladly admit that I have never had my nerves more unstrung than on that occasion, though I have been in much greater peril.

We searched through several clumps of bushes, and examined several thickets, in the hope of finding where the tiger had concealed himself.

The natives approached all these thickets with fear and trembling, so that most of the searching was done by the Russian members of the party.
Just as we were beating around a little clump of bushes, fifteen or twenty yards across, my companion on the other side shouted: "Look out; the tiger is preparing to spring upon you." Instantly I cocked my rifle and fired into the bushes; they were so dense that I could hardly discern the outline of the beast, who had me in full view, and was crouching preparatory to making a leap.