THE TIGER PURSUED. 31 



a loud roar, a fine tiger started into full view, and 

 went bounding down the jungle, clearing large 

 patches of bushes at every spring. 



" Missed, I believe ! " shouted Norman, as he 

 began to reload. " Keep a good look-out at the 

 end of the jungle, Mac." 



Mac did so, for the animal was only in sight for 

 a few tremendous leaps, and he did not think it 

 worth while to fire. But nothing broke from the 

 end. 



At the first roar, some of the beaters had 

 scrambled into low trees, but most of them huddled 

 together like a flock of frightened sheep ; and in 

 this form they were now led by old Rugonauth 

 out of the jungle on the side opposite to the sports- 

 men, with the object of beating from the remote 

 end and driving the tiger from the thick patch in 

 which he had disappeared. 



Advancing in a compact body, and not scattered 

 as heretofore in parties or singly, they approached 

 the place, throwing stones and an occasional rocket 

 or flower-pot as skirmishers in front. 



This was evidently not to the tiger's taste, for he 

 slipped down a few feet of bank into the river, and 

 partly in water, partly on the shingly shore, 

 galloped back down the river side in a direction 

 almost straight towards Mackenzie. Having a good 



