62 THE TIGER. 



the Koyal Tiger, which I recognized by the short nap, 

 strewn with black and irregular rays over the tawny 

 hair. But its height and length, the fineness of its 

 extremities, and the grace of its form, denoted that 

 it was not yet quite full grown. I suppose it was 

 about seven years old. 



" The oarsman's ball had glided over the ribs and 

 ploughed the right flank of the beast ; the second had 

 entered the flesh at the top of the shoulder. One 

 inch lower, and the Indian would have conquered the 

 tiger, for he would have broken the joint. He had 

 evidently fired each time a little too hastily. 



" Two of my six balls had shattered the tiger's jaw ; 

 the four others were lodged in the breast, and one of 

 them had grazed the heart. 



" Scarcely had our inspection terminated when Laos > 

 who had carefully watched all, pressed under his finger 

 the slightly distended udder of the beast, and there 

 issued a yellowish- white milky fluid. This was a ray of 

 sunlight to him. He seized his cutlass and started ofr, 

 without speaking a word, and began to search about 

 the end of the peninsula, beating every tuft of bushes. 

 The Baron and I, being greatly moved, took up our 

 firearms and set ourselves to watch with increasing 

 interest. 



" At the end of the peninsula footprints were seen 

 on the greasy and humid shore some large and deep, 



