272 IN MALAY FORESTS. 



to the next village. The inclement weather and slip- 

 pery path had made him much later than he had ex- 

 pected, for, like every one else in the district, he had 

 heard of the Bentong tiger. He was making his way 

 somewhat nervously, therefore, hoping that every turn 

 in the narrow forest-track would disclose the village 

 clearing, when he was panic-stricken to hear the tiger 

 roar within a short distance of him. Shaking with 

 fear, he ran for his life towards the village. He had 

 not gone far before he came on a tiger-trap built at 

 the side of the track, ready set with its bait of village 

 cur, and with the door wide open. Struck by the idea 

 that the timbers which would keep a tiger in would 

 also keep one out, he dropped on his hands and knees, 

 crawled in, and let the heavy door fall behind him. 

 And when the tiger roared again in still closer prox- 

 imity, on one occasion within a few feet of him, and 

 continued to roar in the vicinity at intervals through- 

 out the night, he forgave the presence of the unclean 

 dog that cowered beside him, and blessed the thought 

 that had led him to seek such a refuge. 



When morning broke it found him stiff and shivering 

 from the effects of the night's rain, the exposure, and 

 the cramped position ; but it found him alive, and for 

 that he added special thanksgiving to the morning 

 prayer of every Muhammadan believer. He discovered 

 that from the inside of the trap he was unable to raise 

 the heavy falling door, but remained where he was, 

 content with the knowledge that before long some one 

 would certainly pass along the track. In this he was 

 not disappointed, for soon he heard a man approaching, 

 and shouted to him for assistance. The man looked 



