The Tiger 211 



a man's leg; these formed an undergrowth among the 

 larger forest trees. 



" Moolah Box crashed with his ponderous weight 

 through the resisting mass, bearing down all obstacles 

 before him as he steadily made his way across the inter- 

 vening growth. The roars had now ceased. There were 

 no leaves on the trees at this advanced season, and one 

 could see the natives among the branches in all directions, 

 as they perched for safety on the limbs to which they 

 had climbed like monkeys at the terrible sounds of danger. 

 ' Where is the tiger ? ' I shouted to the first man we could 

 distinguish in his safe retreat only a few yards distant. 

 ' Here ! here ! ' he replied, pointing immediately beneath 

 him. Almost at the same instant, the tiger, which had 

 been lying ready for attack, sprang forward with a loud 

 roar directly for Moolah Box. 



" There were so many trees intervening that I could not 

 fire, and the elephant, instead of halting, moved forward, 

 meeting the tiger in his spring. With a swing of his 

 huge head he broke down several tall saplings, that crashed 

 towards the infuriated tiger and checked his onset. Dis- 

 comfited for a moment, he bounded in retreat, and Moolah 

 Box stood suddenly like a rock, without the slightest move- 

 ment. This gave me a splendid opportunity, and the .577 

 bullet rolled him over like a rabbit. Almost at the same 

 instant, having performed a somersault, the tiger disap- 

 peared, and fell struggling among the high grass and 

 bushes about fifteen paces distant. 



" I now urged Moolah Box carefully forward until I 

 could plainly see the tiger's shoulders, and then a second 



