FOUND DEAD. 91 



more open space about the pool ; and almost simul- 

 taneously detected the tiger lying at its very edge, 

 with his head and paws in the water. 



Mackenzie, who from his position on the right, 

 had the clearest view, perhaps was the first by a 

 second to catch sight of the game, and quickly 

 ejaculated : " Look out ! there he is. Dead, though, 

 I believe. I'll fire to make sure/' 



This he did ; while the other two brought up 

 their rifles and stood prepared. The only response 

 to Mackenzie's shot was the dull sound the bullet 

 made as it entered the body. The beast was quite 

 dead ; and a few steps in advance showed them 

 that it was lying with the face and paws in the 

 water, having evidently died in the act of taking 

 its last drink. 



It proved to be a magnificent male tiger ; and 

 the body showed that three bullets had entered it, 

 besides the last shot of Mackenzie's. One had 

 struck the chest ; another almost penetrated the 

 depth of his body, entering near the spine ; and a 

 third had broken the bone of the shoulder. 



A triumphant death-yell soon brought the boaters 

 swarming down into the cover, chattering incessantly 

 as they did so. 



A couple of boughs were soon cut from the trees 

 and shaped into long poles by the ready axes of the 



