72 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



US. It was exciting work, and with palpitating 

 hearts we advanced abreast slowly, each peering 

 forward among the reeds and tangled bush, ex- 

 pecting every moment that the wounded brute 

 would charge. Ponto kept three or four paces in 

 front of me, his apology for a tail moving to and 

 fro, and his mouth slavering with intense excite- 

 ment. Suddenly he started back and gave tongue, 

 and without a roar or even a rustling in the grass, 

 a yellow mass sprang from behind a bush in front 

 of us. Three rifles cracked, the reports of which 

 were blended like that of one shot, and a magni- 

 ficent tigress lay sprawling in the last agonies 

 within six paces of us, whom the doctor put out of 

 her misery by a well-administered ball behind the 

 ear. We were about to rush forward, and examine 

 the stricken brute, which was still gasping, when 

 again a savage growl was heard in the same bush, 

 and a large tiger, with his off fore-arm broken 

 endeavoured to drag himself across the swamp." 

 Fred, who caught sight of him first, let drive, 

 and rolled him over, and I gave him my second 

 barrel, which finished him. We immediately set 



