112 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
whither the animal had run for protection from its 
pursuers ; but the party was so numerous and dis- 
persed, that the tiger had not time to penetrate the 
thicket before it was surrounded and forced to pre- 
pare for defence. The grass was high, which a good 
deal impeded the movements of the shikarries and 
elephants. These latter were much frightened, on 
seeing the fierce determination of the enemy towards 
which the mahoots were violently urging them, and 
shrank back with their trunks raised in the air, be- 
tokening the violence of their alarm. The tiger stood 
with its eyes glaring upon them, lashing its tail, 
protruding its claws, every now and then showing 
its monstrous fangs, uttering a suppressed yell, and 
exhibiting all those indications of rage so terrible in 
this ferocious creature. 
The elephants remained stationary. Not one of 
them would advance : on the contrary, several turn- 
ed their backs upon the infuriated beast and started 
off at full speed in spite of the efforts of the ma- 
hoots to keep them in the field. The tiger did not 
attempt to move, but maintained its position, eyeing 
with a deadly ferocity the formidable array by which 
it was surrounded. At length, after violent exertions 
on the part of the driver, an old and well-trained 
male elephant was induced to approach the savage foe. 
He rushed forward on a sudden, and at the same 
moment, ere the tiger could make its spring, a shikarry 
shot it through the body: it staggered and reeled 
backward. The elephant instantly seized the oppor- 
tunity, and impaled it with his tusks, pinning it 
firmly to the earth ; but in its death-struggle the 
