52 SPORTING AND 



quietly gliding through the reeds. In a 

 moment my rifle was to my shoulder, and 

 after a steady aim I pulled the trigger, 

 but, to my horror, no explosion followed. 

 I immediately aimed at him with the 

 second barrel, but I suppose I was too 

 flurried by the first barrel missing, for I 

 missed the vital part I aimed at, and only 

 wounded him. He turned at once, and 

 with an unearthly roar, which I seem to 

 hear still ringing in my ears, I found my- 

 self on my back in a moment, and the 

 tiger quietly contemplating me. 



" I now felt my last hour was come, and 

 commended myself to the mercy of the 

 Almighty. At this instant the tiger threw 

 up his head and looked the way by which 

 we had come ; hope began to fill my 

 breast, as I knew assistance was at hand ; 

 indeed, I heard the sound of approaching 



