HUNTING THE TIGER. 



417 



motions of the crowd. On being informed that a tiger had 

 escaped from his keepers, he immediately called for his horse, 

 and with no other weapon than a boar-spear snatched from 

 one of the by-standers, he rode to attack the terrible enemy. 

 The tiger was probably amazed at finding himself in the 

 middle of such a number of shrieking beings flying from him 

 in all directions ; but the moment he saw Sir Robert, he 

 crouched in the attitude of preparing to spring upon him ; . 

 and that instant the gallant soldier passed his horse in a leap 

 over the tiger's back, and struck the spear through his spine. 

 It was a feat requiring the unity of purpose and and move- 

 ment on the part of horse and rider, almost realising for the 

 moment the fable of the centaur. Had either swerved or 

 wavered for a second, both had been lost. But the brave 

 Bteed knew his rider. The animal was a small gray, and 

 was afterwards sent home as a present to the prince regent. 



