66 THE TIGEB. 



skin, and he begged of me to let him do it. I con- 

 sented ; but, nevertheless, I continued to aim at the 

 animal, at all hazards. 



" Laos deposited his burden of the two young tigers 

 on the ground, and then, taking up his club with his 

 two hands by the extremity of the handle, he placed 

 himself well in front of the beast, and dealt him a 

 blow on the head with all his might, with so much 

 vigour, indeed, as to split the skull in two as a butcher 

 would that of an ox. 



" It was a full-grown male ; and a very splendid 

 animal he was. 



" Laos took the fancy to draw the scent of the beast 

 before the two cubs, still wrapped up in the patsoo ; 

 they squalled and tore like mad things, until they 

 very nearly managed to effect their escape. This 

 was evidence to me that the tiger was their father. 



" Poor Laos ended very badly. M. Thomas- Anquetil 

 had made him a present cf a rifle and ammunition, of 

 which no one could make better use. One day, sur- 

 prised by a tiger, he promptly put himself on the 

 defensive. His two barrels missed fire in the very face 

 of the animal, and he was devoured in the twinkling 

 of an eye." 



