THE STORY OF THE TIGER. 
91 
The method of the tiger's seizing its prey is by concealing itself from 
view and springing upon it with a horrible roar. Its cry, in the act of spring¬ 
ing on its victim, is hideous beyond expression. Like the lion, if it misses the 
object, it walks away without repeating the attempt. When it can securely 
attack mankind, it prefers them to* any other prey; but seldom makes an open 
attack upon any creature that is capable of resistance. 
Sometimes it is easily scared. A company, seated under the shade 
of some trees, near the banks of a river in Bengal, were alarmed by the unex- 
ROYAL BENGAL TIGER AND ITS PREY. 
pected sight of a tiger, preparing for its fatal spring; when a lady, with 
almost unexampled presence of mind, unfurled a large umbrella in the ani¬ 
mal’s face. This so confounded the tiger that it gave the party an oppor¬ 
tunity to escape. 
Of late years tiger-hunting has become less dangerous, principally on 
account of the innate fear that all wild beasts seem to have of the power of 
firearms. When mankind first waged war against the tigers, they did not heed 
the firearms, but experience has taught them a fear of those terrible weapons, 
