Their methods
then became so uncanny, and their man-stalking so
well-timed and so certain of success, that the work-
men firmly believed that they were not real animals
at all, but devils in lions' shape. Many a time the
coolies solemnly assured me that it was absolutely
useless to attempt to shoot them. They were quite
convinced that the angry spirits of two departed
native chiefs had taken this form in order to protest
against a railway being made through their country,
and by stopping its progress to avenge the insult
thus shown to them.

Chapter 2