"Couldn't we follow and get a shot at it?" said Harry excitedly. "No, no, of course not in a place like this," he hastened to add, for unless the path was followed it was next to impossible to move.
The next minute the elephant had knelt, and Sree had scrambled back to his place behind the howdah.
"As there was one here, there may be his mate, Sahib," he said; "so we will keep a good look-out."
"Yes, of course," said Harry, as the elephant strode along quietly enough; "but I say, Phra, we did not come out after tigers, did we?"
"No, but by accident we are where we may get one. Did you find the pugs as easily as this, when you were out with my father that day?"
"No, Sahib; it was all hard work, and very few footmarks to be found."
"Did you bring us this way hoping that we might shoot a tiger?"
"No, Sahib; I brought you along here so that you might shoot a deer for us to take back. I would not purposely take you where there are tigers; but if we have one tracking us, of course we must shoot, unless you would like to go back."
"Ask the Prince if he would," said Harry. "I mean to go on."
"Go on, of course," said Phra. "I don't think we shall see any more signs of tigers."