188 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



to the prostrate tiger, which they found lying quite 

 dead. 



" I say, Hawkes, that was a narrowish shave," 

 observed Norman. " It might have been an awkward 

 scrape." 



"Ay, indeed," was the reply. "And many 

 thanks to you, old fellow, for getting me out of 

 it so well. How came you to be there just in the 

 nick of time V 



11 Well, when I saw the movements of the 

 monkeys, I made sure a tiger was on foot, and I 

 just caught a glimpse of him as he tttrned up your 

 nullah. While I was running forward towards it, 

 I heard your shots ; then the roaring ; and, lastly, 

 saw the brute trying to get at you. It was a 

 longish and rather ticklish shot, but there was no 

 help for it ; so I pulled up and fired, and I see have 

 broken the tiger's spine. You have left your marks 

 on him also, for here are two three bullet-holes." 



" Yes, I knocked him over with the first shot 

 near this very place," said Hawkes. " I wonder at 

 his charging when I was so much above him. I 

 thought it was an understood thing that tigers 

 seldom look up." 



" It is certainly a theoretical opinion. As a rule, 

 tigers do sneak along without looking up. But, 

 practically, it would never do to rely entirely on it. 



