THE STRUGGLE. 13 



Noiselessly they thread the well-known thickets, unmindful now of the many active 

 forms of joyous life around them. The playful monkey swings his supple body to 

 the branch above, and, unregarded, chatters forth his mingled rage and fear at the 

 passing figure of his most dreaded foe. The stream is reached, and, more cautious 

 than her lord, the tigress stops to take a look beyond the leafy screen ; but he steps 

 at once into the water and commences to lap it into his mouth. Lying close to the 

 shore, its eyes with their stony glare alone exposed, a crocodile has lain, perhaps for 

 hours, patiently waiting for such an opportunity as now presents itself With an im- 

 perceptible movement, that gives not the slightest ripple to the surface, the scaly 

 legs are drawn towards the 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 the unfortu- 

 nate animal's head in its armed jaws. With a half-stifled roar of rage and surprise, the 

 tiger endeavours to withdraw himself from the cruel grasp, while his foe, lashing the 

 waters into foam, strives to drag him into the stream, unheeding the 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 his horrible, fate with the energy of 

 despair ; but, as the water deepens, his power of resistance grows feebler, while the 

 crocodile at home in his native element, redoubles its exertions, and forcing the tiger's 

 head beneath the stream, by a few quickly repeated, powerful efforts disappears with 

 its prey to the bottom of the river. — A few fast-widening circles spreading towards 

 the opposing banks — a few bubbles brilliant in rainbow hues, floating with the tide, 

 and perhaps an occasional, ominous red spot rising to the surface, are the sole 

 remaining witnesses of the terrible, deadly struggle that had just terminated. 



