14 



THE TIGER. 



ing on him, as some human beings would have 

 done on their foe, allowed him to feed in quiet. 

 From that day the animals not only became re- 

 conciled, but a strong attachment sprang up be- 

 tween them. The Dog used to run in and out of 

 the cage, looking upon it as his home ; and when 

 the Tiger died, he long evidently mourned the 

 loss of his friend and former antagonist. 



Although the Tiger is possessed of great 

 strength, and moves through the thickets of the 

 jungle with the lithe, noiseless action, character- 

 istic of all the Cats (coming suddenly upon his 

 prey, which, unaware of the subtle approach of 

 its cunning foe, may be resting in fancied secu- 

 rity ), yet at times he too falls a victim to an ad- 

 versary as cruel and remorseless as himself. 



Many of the rivers and lakes in the hot lands 

 where this animal dwells fairly swarm with Croc- 

 odiles. Those huge, repulsive reptiles are fre- 

 quently seen stretched at full length upon some 

 sand-bar sleeping in the rays of the mid-day sun, 

 or else submerged in the water, looking like the 

 dead trunk of some fallen tree. 



The Tiger comes down to drink, unsuspecting. 

 With an imperceptible movement, that gives not 

 the slightest ripple to the surface, the scaly legs 

 of the Crocodile are drawn toward tlie body, and 



as the Tiger stoops again to the water, with a 

 rush so rapid as to defy the eye to follow it, the 

 powerful reptile seizes tlie unfortunate animal's 

 liead in its armed jaws. 



With a half-stifled roar of rage and surprise, 

 the Tiger endeavors to withdraw himself from 

 the cruel grasp, wiiile his foe, lashing tlie waters 

 into foam, strives to drag him into the stream, 

 unheeding tlie heavy, blows the Tiger deals it 

 with its paw, the sharp claws of which, however, 

 glance harmlessly from off the mailed covering of 

 the reptile's head. 



Step by step the animal is dragged away from 

 the bank, struggling against its horrible fate witli 

 the energy of despair ; but, as the water deepens, 

 his power of resistance grows feebler, while the 

 Crocodile, at home in his native element, redou- 

 bles its exertions, and forcing the Tiger's head 

 beneath the stream by a few quickly repeated, 

 powerful efforts, disappears wit!i its prey to tlie 

 bottom of the river. A few fast-widening circles 

 spreading toward the opposing banks, a few bub- 

 bles, brilliant in rainbow hues, floating with tlie 

 tide, and perhaps an occasional ominous red spot 

 rising to the surface, are the sole remaining wit- 

 nesses of the terrible, deadly struggle tliat had 

 just terminated. 



