8 HOW I KILLED THE TIGER. 



bolted in all directions. The tiger came to the 

 charge. Contrary to popular belief, tigers do not 

 spring, they charge down, and when close to their 

 prey rear up on their hind legs. I backed from 

 the pogah so as to have him on even and open 

 ground. When he was within five yards of me 

 I made certain of bowling him over with a shot 

 through the head (Plate 8). As ill-luck would 

 have it, the gun again missed fire. The next 

 second he was on me ; one paw on my right 

 shoulder, the other round my back, his enormous 

 mouth making for my head. I struck him a 

 heavy blow on the side of the head with the 

 barrels of the gun, which brought his mouth on 

 my shoulder (Plate 9). I felt his teeth crunch into 

 the flesh. I fell, with the tiger on top of me. 

 His mouth was touching my face, and every 

 moment I expected to find my head in his mouth 

 (Plate 10). I understood now how a mouse feels 

 when clutched by a cat. In fact I was almost 

 as helpless as a mouse. I was completely 

 jammed under him, and I felt unable to support 

 the pressure of his great bulk. My right hand 

 alone was free. I seized him by the scruff of 

 the neck, and struggled desperately to work from 

 under him, intending to get my gun, and try 

 another shot. But before I had succeeded in 

 improving my position much, the tiger got up, 



