HUNTING THE TIGER. 139 



general, spread to the ground like an umbrella; the only aperture 

 into it was a small door, about four feet high. The collector wanted 

 to get the tiger out at once. I begged to wait for my gun ; but 

 no the fowling-piece (loaded with ball, of course) and the two 

 hog-spears were quite enough. I got a hedge-stake, and awaited 

 my fate, from very shame. At this moment, to my great delight, 

 there arrived from the fort an English officer, two artillery-men, 

 and a Malay Captain ; and a pretty figure we should have cut 

 without them, as the event will show. I was now quite ready to 

 attack, and my gun came a minute afterwards. The whole scene 

 which follows took place within an enclosure, about twenty fe*t 

 square, formed, on three sides, by a strong fence of palmyra leaves, 

 and on the fourth by the hut. At the door of this the two artillery- 

 men planted themselves; and the Malay captain got on the top, to 

 frighten the tiger out, by worrying it an easy operation, as the 

 huts there are covered with cocoa-nut leaves. One of the artillery- 

 men wanted to go in to the tiger, but we would not suffer it. At 

 last the beast sprang; this man received him on his bayonet, which 

 he 'hrust apparently down his throat, firing his piece at the same 

 moment. The bayonet broke off- short, leaving less than three 

 inches on the musket ; the rest remained in the animal, but was 

 invisible to us : the shot probably went through his cheek, for it 

 certainly did not seriously injure him, as he instantly rose upon 

 his legs, with a loud roar, and placed his paws upon the soldier's 

 breast. At this moment, the animal appeared to me to about reach 

 the centre of the man's face ; but I had scarcely time to observe 

 this, when the tiger, stooping his head, seized the soldier's arm in 

 his mouth, turned him half round staggering, threw him over on 

 his back, and fell upon mm. Our dread now was, that if we fired 

 upon the tiger, we might kill the man : for a moment there was a 

 pause, when his comrade attacked the beast exactly in the same 

 manner as the gallant fellow himself had done. He struck his 

 bayonet into his head ; the tiger rose at him he fired ; and this 

 time the ball took effect, and in the head. The animal staggered 

 backwards, and we all poured in our fire. He still kicked and 

 writhed ; when the gentlemen with the hog-spears advanced, and 



