AN EXCITING NIGHT ADVENTURE 



had risen, and, after a long interval of silence, were heard 

 again, but now in the far distance, finally dying away as the 

 beast retired further into the jungle. 



One with more knowledge and experience of tigers and 

 their ways would now have probably given up all hope ; 

 but as the old proverb tells us there are times when 



; 'Tis folly to be wise," and G , being possibly of this 



opinion, adhered to his resolve to watch so long as he could 

 see. At length, finding that night was rapidly approaching, 

 and the rain, which had cleared off for a while, was now 

 setting in again, he decided to start homewards before it 

 was quite dark. 



Rising with this intention, he had already placed one 

 foot on the top rung of the ladder when he thought he saw 

 a movement in the grass beyond the "kill." He paused 

 for a moment to make sure, and the next instant was back 

 in the machan crouching behind the screen of leaves. 

 And none too soon ! for scarcely a moment later the 

 head and shoulders of a tiger appeared above the 

 grass ! 



The beast came boldly on till it reached the clearing 

 near the " kill," then stopped suddenly, and, looking up at 

 the " machan," seemed to scent some danger there. It was 

 standing broadside on, hardly thirty paces off, presenting 

 as fine a target as the sportsman could desire. 



Meanwhile the latter, trembling with excitement and 

 with the barrel of his rifle protruded through the leaves, 

 was vainly trying to hold the weapon steady. At last he 

 succeeded, and drawing a bead upon the shoulder so tempt- 

 ingly displayed, gently pressed the trigger. 



As the report went ringing through the jungle, the 

 stricken beast reared itself on end, and with a short, 

 half -stifled roar of agony and rage, fell forward into the 

 grass, and struggling there a while, finally rolled out of 



sight. In the meantime G had fired his second barrel as 



the brute lay struggling in the grass, but without any 

 visible effect, and waiting to give time for the animal to 

 die, or crawl to a safe distance, he got down, intending 

 to make the best of his way home. 



It was now almost dark, and as his route lay through 

 the grass, along the very path by which the tiger had 



