232 Wild Beasts 



which evidently annoyed him, although they had not the 

 effect of causing the animal to break ; it only set up a low 

 angry growl that lasted for some time. Two or three 

 times I saw the bushes shake as if it were about to spring ; 

 and once I caught a hurried glimpse of its outline, and 

 threw up my rifle, but put it down again, as I did not like 

 to fire a chance shot with an uncertain aim. Again Chin- 

 neah's rockets flew hissing about the tiger, and caused him 



to move, for B caught sight of him and let drive right 



and left. Then out he sprang with an appalling roar, and 

 struck down poor Ali, who, notwithstanding my orders, 

 had separated himself from the rest in order to pick up a 

 stone to throw into the bush. His piercing death shriek 

 rang through the night air, striking terror to every heart ; 

 and although I knew that it was too late to save him, I 

 determined that he should be revenged, and dashed for- 

 ward towards the spot where the infuriated brute was 

 savagely growling as it shook the senseless but quivering 

 body. No sooner did I get a glimpse of the tiger than I 

 knew I was perceived, for with a short angry roar he left 

 the corpse, and crouched low upon the ground, with head 

 down, back arched, and tail lashing his heaving flanks. 

 At this moment . . . carefully aiming between the eyes 

 which glared upon me like balls of fire, I fired — he reared 

 up at full length, and fell back dead. 



" Vengeance satisfied, I went up to poor Ali, whom I 

 found shockingly mutilated. His death must, however, 

 have been instantaneous, as the tiger with the first blow 

 had shattered his skull and scattered his brains about the 

 spot." 



