474 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



was all in vain; though in the morning time they could see 

 the animal's foot prints above and below their station, yet 

 they could never catch sight of the beast himself, and the gen- 

 tleman was about to give it up as a bad job, when one day a 

 native came hastening to his abode, to tell him that the tiger 

 was abroad. 



The animal had killed a small cow near the jungle, and had 

 left the carcass untouched, a sure sign that he meant to visit 

 it again. The officer ordered the cow to be drawn a little 

 nearer to a part of the jungle that seemed as if it would afford 

 some sort of screen. As evening drew on he took up his 

 station in the jungle, close to the tail of the cow ; and ar- 

 ranged his servant, and a Hindoo, who persisted in being 

 present, so that they could see all round, and were in no 

 danger of being attacked behind unawares. The night set 

 in very dark : to see at any distance was impossible. They 

 watched and listened till midnight came, and no tiger. At 

 length a rustling was heard amongst the jungle, as if some 

 heavy beast was forcing his way through the underwood. 



They all held their breath to listen with still more anxiety ; 

 but the noise had ceased, and the officer began to think that 

 the tiger had turned aside ; when he looked up, and at the 

 head of the cow, within a yard and a half of himself, he per- 

 ceived the dusky form of the huge beast ; his paws upon the 

 carcass of the cow. More through desperation than deliberate 

 courage the rifle was raised and fired. With an awful roar, 

 the tiger rushed forward, but luckily missed the spot where 

 they lay in ambush. Meanwhile, terrified out of their senses, 

 the Hindoo and servant clung to him so closely, that it was 

 impossible to prepare for another shot. A minute or more 

 passed away, and they heard the beast fall to the earth, and 

 groan heavily. They felt relieved, and listened with pleasure 

 as each groan grew fainter and fainter, and indicated that 

 the animal was expiring. After a time, one of the attendants 

 mustered up courage enough to go and rouse the village. The 



