I98 TIGER STARED OUT OF COUNTENANCE. 



me as if two tigers were growling at each other, but as 

 there was no tree near available for climbing I was unable 

 to reconnoitre. 



We commenced stalking round to get above where the 

 growls came from, and were cautiously creeping up, when 

 Francis suddenly touched me and pointed straight ahead, and 

 there just above us in an open space stood the grand old tiger 

 facing us, growling fiercely and showing his huge yellow 

 teeth — to fire would have been madness, though his broad 

 chest offered a most tempting shot. Francis wanted me to 

 fire, but I whispered, No. I felt if I showed the slightest fear 

 or attempted to retreat he would be immediately upon us, so 

 I tried what steadily staring at him would do. For nearly 

 two minutes we must have remained looking at each other, I 

 staring at him and he glaring and growling and showing his 

 teeth, standing bolt upright all the time, and a grand huge 

 monster he looked ; at last he crouched down and opened his 

 eyes wide. I thought he was coming, but knew he could not 

 spring direct from where he was, so if the worst came to the 

 worst I could fire as he approached before his final spring ; but 

 I still trusted to the power of the eye, and leaning forward 

 glared at him with all my might ; it had the desired effect ; 

 he slowly slunk away, and as he turned, his length looked 

 enormous. He crouched so low that his body was almost 

 hidden by the leaves ; waiting till he had had time to make 

 himself scarce, I stole up to where he had been, when away 

 he dashed with a growl and a roar not twenty yards from me ; 

 I could only see a mass of red, flash through the brush wood. 



Whilst looking about for the goat we heard him growling 

 down in the ravine below us, and for a second or two I 

 thought he was coming up towards us ; however, I was 



