A PEK1LOUS POSITION. 185 



sprang up roaring with rage and pain, and, catching 

 a sight of his adversary on the rock-faced bank 

 above, came bounding towards him over the boulders 

 and stones at the foot of the low cliff on which 

 Hawkes stood. The hunter seized his second gun, 

 and poured in its contents as the tiger came on, but 

 without the effect of stopping his headlong charge. 

 The beast reached the base of the rocky height, and, 

 making a desperate spring, managed to gain a hold 

 with his fore-paws on its top, but its flat and slip- 

 pery face presented nothing on which to fix his hind- 

 feet, or give it purchase to assist in dragging itself 

 bodily to the top. As Hawkes turned to seize his 

 third gun from the attendant, he perceived that 

 individual some distance in the rear, racing with 

 full power on towards the nearest tree. It was too 

 late for him to follow suit : retreat was now out of 

 the question ; so he clubbed his gun and brought it 

 down with force on the head of the tiger as it rested 

 snarling between its paws within a few feet of the 

 striker. The beast winced, but did not let go its 

 hold ; indeed, appeared to redouble its efforts to 

 effect a lodgment. The stock flew into splinters as 

 it came in contact with the hard skull of the tiger ; 

 but Hawkes continued to belabour him with the 

 barrels. He laid on with a will, but the result was 

 yet doubtful. Despite the desperate blows, the beast 



