208 SHIKAR SKETCHES. 



sat up till about two or three o'clock, a.m., but 

 nothing appeared. A. then said he should not 

 stay up any longer, as he did not believe the 

 animal would come; but B. announced his inten- 

 tion of waiting half-an-hour longer by himself. 



There were large windows opening down to the 

 floor of the verandah, and through one of these 

 A. retired, and, after entering his room, had just 

 closed the window, and was gazing out for an in- 

 stant, when he saw a dark mass land in the 

 verandah, right on to his friend, then heard 

 sounds of a scuffle, and a cry for help. Seizing 

 his rifle, to which a sword-bayonet was attached, 

 and flinging up the window, he rushed out, in 

 time to see B. walking down the steps that led 

 up to the verandah from the garden alongside of 

 the tiger with his hand in the latter 's mouth ! 



A. was afraid to fire lest he should hit his 

 friend, so running after him he, with admirable 

 presence of mind, went up to the tiger, and 

 plunging his bayonet into the animal's body, at 

 the same instant fired. 



There was a roar and a scuffle, and B. took 

 advantage of the moment to release his hand, 

 and the tiger, after tumbling about for a mo- 

 ment or two, died. B.'s hand was terribly mauled, 

 and he subsequently, I believe, had to have it 

 amputated ; but the loss of a hand was a com- 



