After our afternoon tea, Byomkesh took Kaligati aside and whispered to him, "We will proceed according to last night's plan — all right?"

Kaligati looked worried, "Have you given it a serious thought?"

Byomkesh said, "I think we should go to the hut tonight. We have to solve this mystery once and for all. The moon will set at about ten at night. Ajit and I will go there before that and wait for the culprit to come, and catch him as soon as he walks in!"

Kaligati said, "But if he does not come?"

Byomkesh said, "Then I'll assume that my earlier guess was correct — Harinath is dead."

Kaligati thought for some time and said, "But I think you should go once before to the hut now to see where it is — let's go!"

Byomkesh said, "All right, if we don't see it in daylight, it will be difficult for us to locate it in the dark." He did not reveal to Kaligati that we had already seen the hut. The three of us reached the hut. Kaligati walked ahead, and took us inside. We saw that there was a heap of ashes in the middle of the room — otherwise there was no change.

Kaligati opened the back door overlooking the stretch of sand. Byomkesh said, "What a lovely open space!"

I repeated, "Yes, yes!"

Kaligati said, "You will stay in this room tonight.... but I am a little nervous about it. I have heard people say that a tiger has come to the forest."

I said, "So what, — we will bring our guns!"

Kaligati smiled, "It will be so dark that you will not be able to see your target. Your guns will be of no use. Anyway, I hope the rumour about the tiger is false. There is no need to bring a gun. But we can't be too careful — so please be on the alert. In case you hear the roar of a tiger — don't stay inside this room. Come out of this back door, close it, go down on to the sandy area, and stand there. Even if the tiger enters the hut, it will not be able to climb down on to the sand."

Byomkesh said happily, "That's a good idea. We should not bother to bring guns. Besides Ajit has newly learnt to use a gun — he will needlessly make a noise, and all our efforts will go to waste."

We returned home. But my mind was covered by a mist. In the evening, we were sitting together in Himangshu's armoury, when Byomkesh asked, "Himangshubabu, suppose that a person had killed a simple, harmless, dependent man for his own selfish ends. How should that man be punished?"

Himangshu said with a smile, "Death — a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye."

Byomkesh turned to me, "Ajit, what is your opinion?"

"I agree with Himangshubabu."

Byomkesh was silent for some time. Then he went to the door and shut it. He came back and said softly, 'Tonight Ajit and I are going to hide in the small hut near the forest.'

Surprised, Himangshu said, "But why?"

Byomkesh gave him the reason in brief and said, "But we are feeling nervous to go alone. You have to come along with us."

Himangshu said with great enthusiasm, "Of course, I will come with you."

Byomkesh said, "But not a soul must know that you are coming. Then all our plans will go haywire. Listen, we will go out at about nine thirty in the night. You will start out of the house at ten — but no one must know. You must not let any one know that you are even aware of our plans. That is also important for the success of our expedition. And you must take your best rifle with you. We will go without any arms."

We got ready to go after the dinner, and left the house at exactly nine thirty.

As soon as we went out of the gate, we heard a voice calling us softly. It was Dewan Kaligati. He was waiting for us. He came near us and said, "Are you going now? I can see that you have not taken any guns with you. Remember what you must do if you should hear the roar of a tiger — go and stand on the stretch of sand behind the hut."

"Yes, we will remember your instructions."

"Good luck — may God be with you."

We began walking. Once we reached the hut, Byomkesh took out his torch and looked around the room. Then he sat on the ground, and told me to do the same. I sat down and asked, "May I light a cigarette?"

"Yes, but the light of the matchstick must not be seen from outside."

So we sat smoking silently. We heard a noise outside after half an hour. Byomkesh said, "Himangshubabu, come in."

Himangshu came in with a rifle. The three of us began our long vigil inside the hut.

At about 12.25 a.m. we heard a terrible sound very close by. All the three of us stood up. I had not heard the roar of a hungry wild tiger before — so I trembled with fear. Himangshu said in an undertone, "Tiger!" A slight sound from his direction told us that he was getting ready.

The roar had come from the side of the forest — so Himangshu quietly went to the doorless side of the hut. We stood motionless.

Himangshu whispered to us, "I can't see a thing; it is very dark."

Byomkesh whispered back, 'Shoot at the sound — you are an expert at it.'

Himangshu went a few steps out of the hut.

Just at that time, the earth trembled with a wild roar — it was very near us — maybe within fifty yards from where we stood. Before the echo of the roar receded, Himangshu fired from