368 THE EASTEEN HUNTEES. 



" Why, he was close enough. There was no diffi- 

 culty in the shot," said Mackenzie, a good deal 

 amused at the man's wonder. 



"Ay, Sahib, easy if it had been standing. But 

 a charging tiger ! Such a death-dealing gun was 

 never before seen. Crack ! and in one breath a 

 savage tiger found death ! It was wonderful. The 

 Sahib is assisted by spirits. I saw it all, and was 

 amazed. May I be permitted to look at the gun \ " 



Mackenzie laughed as he good-naturedly handed 

 his rifle for inspection, and asked if it was not a 

 good gun. 



" It is a gun beyond price, Sahib," replied Eoopur, 

 as he examined the weapon with a tender, deferential 

 care. " It is a regular death-giver, and very heavy. 

 But the Sahib is strong ; and in his hands a cannon 

 would be nothing." 



" Why, you see, it requires weight to throw a 

 bullet like this." And Mackenzie showed a conical 

 " twelve." " And yet you see it only takes this 

 charge of powder : not like the handful you people 

 use in your matchlocks." 



" Is this really all the powder required to fire this 

 great bullet ? " inquired Eoopur, in astonishment. 

 " The European people are very wonderful. They 

 must make guns by witchcraft. It must hit hard, 

 or the tiger would not have fallen ! " 



