298 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



But even as he thus rapidly spoke, and suiting 

 the action to the word brought his rifle to bear, the 

 tiger rolled over in a heap, and a rifle crack sounded 

 sharp and ringing. 



" By Heaven ! That dear old fellow, Mac, spoke 

 there. Do you see him, Hawkes, from where you 

 are?" 



" I can see Mac," was the reply. " He has 

 changed his place. But I can't make out the tiger : 

 he must be down, for the man has bolted." 



" Here, hold aside this bough," Norman said to 

 his gun-bearer. " Let me see ! Ah ! There he is 

 struggling. I have him now. Steady ! " 



It was a long, a very long shot ; but the bullet 

 sped on its way, and the wounded animal ceased to 

 struggle. The beater, released from the numbing 

 effects of his terror by the overthrow of the tiger, 

 had already, with monkey-like agility, climbed into 

 a tree. The crisis was over, and the man saved ; 

 and it mattered little whether Mackenzie's or 

 Norman's bullet had given the death wound. 



" The old trump ! There he is looking quite 

 unconcerned, and as cool as a cucumber, I bet," 

 remarked Norman, admiringly. " Is it all right, 

 Mac ? " he shouted. " Is he finished '\ " 



The answer was another rifle shot, succeeded by a 

 stentorian roar. " All right, lie's meat ! I just fired 



