WILD LIFE ACROSS THE WORLD 



minds. I shall never forget the scene. Those three 

 stood their ground manfully, on guard, whilst in front 

 of them was the huge animal, coughing savagely, 

 ready to spring, only three yards away. Then suddenly 

 the strain became too great for two of the men. They 

 turned and fled, leaving the third man alone. 



For a moment he stood his ground, then he too 

 decided to bolt ; but he was too late. As he turned 

 the tiger sprang and knocked him senseless. The 

 game-ranger fired, and missed ; then, seeing the tiger 

 actually over the victim, he would not fire again, because 

 had he merely wounded the brute it would at once 

 have killed the man. With a growl — of triumph I 

 suppose — the animal put his head down to take the 

 victim's head in his mouth. At that moment I shouted 

 at the top of my voice. My cry saved the native's 

 life. The beast looked up quickly, gave another terrible 

 cough, gazed at me fixedly for a few seconds which 

 seemed Uke hours, then suddenly jumped sideways 

 into the jungle. 



This incident reminds me of a somewhat similar 

 occurrence which happened when we were out after 

 elephants. On that occasion my trackers tried to take 

 a short cut through the jungle, which unfortunately 

 took them right in amongst the elephants. Immediately 

 the latter turned on them and forced them to take 

 refuge in trees. Not knowing what delayed them, I 

 spent a very anxious night hoping for their return. 



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