TIGER-HUNTING IN CHINA 243 



latter broke off and turned abruptly downwards. My 

 eyes were now becoming used to the darkness, and 

 by the light of the torches which had been thrust 

 into the tiger's cavern through the chinks in the 

 rock I could see him in full. He lay on a ledge of 

 rock, facing me, his green eyes shining and blinking 

 sleepily in the light, his great striped back moving 

 up and down as he panted from fright and anger. 

 His face was not four feet from mine when I had 

 come to the end of the passage ; but there was little 

 danger, since he was too much cowed by the light to 

 charge, and had he done so, my opening was too 

 small for him to enter. Had he tried to get at me 

 by tearing away the stones at the mouth of my pas- 

 sage, he could have been warded off with the barrel 

 of the express. 



I lay full five minutes watching him. At the 

 end of that time I moved the express slowly into 

 position, being badly cramped; the tiger snarled 

 angrily as he saw the barrel approaching, and drew 

 back restlessly, still roaring. This was not pleasant 

 to hear. I then fired, without being able to see the 

 sights, but trusting to hit a vital spot. In the dark- 

 ness which immediately ensued, for the torches 

 had been extinguished by the report, it was im- 

 possible to tell what he would do, though he could 

 be heard roaring and leaping around his cavern. 



