A LETTER FROM THE yiGER. 



25^ 



The plan was successful ; for two enormous tigers, 

 as large as the one I had " enchanted," bounded out of 

 the hioii underbrush like youno; cats. Our men's cries 

 and the general hubbub confused them and made them 

 lose their heads, and they ran back and forth without 

 any plan or method. Suddenly one of them sprang at 

 my elephant, full in the face, as is their favorite method 

 of attack. Before I could come to the rescue with my 

 rifle, the no- 

 ble beast had 

 calmly torn the 

 brute from its 

 hold, hurled 

 it upon the 

 ground, and 

 placed his pon- 

 der ous fore- 

 feet, one on its 

 flanks and one 

 on its head ! I felt a violent jerk and shock, and heard 

 the cracking of bones like the sound of a tree broken by 

 the force of the tempest ; and I saw the beast flattened 

 under the weight of the massive pacliyderui. The lat- 

 ter, proud of his deed, never lost his dignity or temper 

 for an instant, and I showered caresses and sugar upon 

 him in reward for his prompt courage. Meanwhile the 

 other tiger had not remained inactive. He had suc- 

 ceeded in bringing down a 3'oung elephant, on which 



THEIK FAVORITE METHOD OF ATTACK. 



