40 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



bent back and swiftly clambering hind feet, ripped and 

 scored long, deep gashes down her stiffly protruded fore- 

 legs. Down she came again ; and a tremulous moan of 

 despair began to well from her straining throat. 



At last there was a heavy squelch, as the miserable 

 creature gave way and fell on her side. As she rolled 

 over, the tiger slightly relaxed his hold. Up she sprang 

 again, and went staggering off, tail in air. But, poor 

 beast, she had not gone far before her hind legs were 

 struck violently from under her, and she was once more 

 in that merciless grip. This time the maddened tiger 

 exerted all his strength. Almost at once there came a 

 dull, thick, creaking snap and a stifled groan ! There 

 followed another heavy fall in the darkness ; the sound 

 of feeble kicking; a few deep, convulsive breaths, and a 

 slow expiring sigh. Then absolute silence ! . . . 



Long after this was heard a queer low sound as of 

 bubbling, frothy breathing, and a ripping tearing noise. 

 Then it ceased, and a deep throaty purr vibrated. The 

 tiger was now wandering round and smelling his "kill" 

 in the dark. In course of time a dragging sound ensued, 

 and stones rattled. He was endeavouring to convey his 

 prey to a distance, after the instincts of his race. 



All night long the young tiger fed voraciously. Be- 

 ginning at the soft portions between the hinder limbs, he 

 ate steadily forwards, gradually demolishing almost all of 

 both hind quarters. But not yet had he attained to the 

 scientific butchery of his kind ; and the carcase remained 

 uncleaned. 



A thin sickle moon appeared over the eastward moun- 

 tains towards morning, and the tiger began to drag the 

 remains of his " kill " yet further into the jungle, with a 

 view to concealing it against his return next night. As 

 he was transporting it along a steep incline it escaped 

 from his hold and rolled down to the bottom of a ravine. 

 He followed, and ate a little more ; then, as day began to 



