VI 
THE TIGER 
225 
swimming across a channel upon my left Presently 
a slow movement disturbed the half-burnt herbage, 
and I could make out with difficulty some form 
creeping silently forward about 40 yards from my 
position. It halted, no doubt having perceived the 
elephant. It moved again, and once more halted. 
I now made out that it was a tiger; but although I 
could distinguish yellow and black stripes, I could 
not possibly determine any head or tail, therefore I 
could only speculate upon its actual attitude. It 
struck me that it would probably be facing me, but 
crouching low. The elephants were now about 150 
yards distant, approaching in a crescent, as the 
high grass was not more than the same distance in 
width. 
I determined to take the shot, as I felt sure that 
the *577 rifle would cripple the beast, and that we 
should find it when severely wounded; otherwise 
it might disappear and give us several hours’ hard 
labour to discover. Taking a very steady aim low 
down in the indistinct mass, I fired. 
The effect was instantaneous; a succession of 
wild roars was accompanied by a tremendous 
struggle in the high grass, and I could occasionally 
see the tiger rolling over and over in desperate con¬ 
tortions, while a cloud of black dust from the recent 
fire rose as from a furnace. This continued for 
about twelve or fifteen seconds, during which my 
elephant had whisked round several times and been 
severely punished by the drivers hook, when 
suddenly, from the cloud of dust, a tiger came 
VOL. I Q 
