/' I KILLED THE TIGER. J 



My friend suggested that the fat man, who was 

 a noticeable figure in the crowd, should go; but 

 the fat man did not receive the suggestion with 

 enthusiasm. When I arrived at the opening, I 

 saw within thirty yards of me a most magnificent 

 Royal Bengal Tiger, of which the frontispiece of 

 this book conveys a pretty accurate impression. 

 He was lying down broadside on, his head slightly 

 raised, and his weather eye taking careful stock 

 of me (Plate 4). I took steady aim behind his 

 shoulder, the most vulnerable part. The cap 

 missed fire. The second cap also missed fire. 

 The villager, not liking the look of things, ske- 

 daddled with great precipitation. I then walked 

 off a few yards, primed the nipples, and re- 

 capped. During these operations my friend was 

 doing his utmost to dissuade me from going up 

 again (Plate 5). But the opportunity was too 

 good and too rare to be lost. I was afraid that 

 if I sent for another gun, the tiger might take 

 it into his head to slope. All being now ready, 

 I walked up again, my prudent friend going in 

 the opposite direction (Plate 6). The tiger had 

 not budged an inch. I took steady aim at the 

 same spot, just behind the shoulder, and fired 

 (Plate 7). Instantly the tiger was on his hind 

 legs, and uttered a terrific roar. My friend and 

 the natives, without waiting to see the result, 



C 2 



