76 IN THE INDIAN JUNGLE. 



would be the last, and it was with the utmost relief 

 that at length I saw his figure looming in the 

 distance. Now he has left the main road and got 

 into the short cut. He is still about two hundred 

 yards off, when Merciful Heaven ! What is that 

 I see stealing along some thirty yards behind him ? 

 The ruts hide it from view for a moment, but 

 there it is again. There is no mistaking that huge 

 head. It is the tiger ! The bright moonlight shows 

 up his yellow body between the little ridges in the 

 road, as crouching low he stealthily follows my 

 friend, actually stalking him. I was in an agony 

 of nervous tremor. Should I shout to warn Provis ? 

 But that would probably cause him to stop, and 

 the tiger would be on to him. Every moment 

 seemed an age, yet there was my friend in the 

 jaws of death and yet wholly unconscious of his 

 extreme danger. Could I but stay the shaking 

 of my hands there was a chance yet, as I could 

 depend on my Snider for anything up to a hundred 

 yards. I aimed as best I could at the tiger, but 

 those who have done tiger-shooting know how 

 small a mark this great brute offers when, crouched 

 low, he steals along after his prey. He was visibly 

 lessening the distance between himself and Provis, 

 and would probably make his final rush in another 

 moment or two. I aimed at a spot a few yards 

 in advance where the path was comparatively 

 level, so that I would be able to see the whole of 

 the tiger's body, and immediately he appeared 

 there I fired. Provis stopped a moment ; then 

 rushed forward exclaiming, " D n it, old man, 



