Shepherdstown Register

Facing a Tiger.

An English sportsman in India had been out all day beating a jungle, with "the worst of bad luck." Finally he discovered a huge blue bull, and ordered his beaters to drive it toward him while he posted himself behind a dense clump of thorns. The beaters set at work to follow his instructions, but without success, and suddenly an exciting thing happened.

"I was just going to move away when the beaters shouted frantically. 'A tiger! a tiger!' I could see nothing and supposing it to be only a hyena, or perhaps a jackal, I stepped out from my place of concealment. And there, lying between my bush and the next one, was an enormous tiger.

We were about eight feet apart, and as there was no getting through the bush on either side, one of us must give way or die. I think we faced each other for half a minute. If ever I saw wrath personified, it was then. With ears flat against its head, and contracted lips showing its white teeth, the tiger glared at me with its fierce eyes, keeping up a snarling growl and lashing the ground with its tail.

Slowly, slowly, I raised the heavy rifle, and aimed at the broad chest just where the chin allowed me to see it. I recollect now that I thought to allow for the rise of the ball at so short a distance, and taking a very fine sight, I pulled the trigger. As I did so I jumped back and drew my knife.

It was unnecessary. As the smoke cleared I saw the fierce head dropping on the paws, and the great cat lay still. The shock of the heavy bullet had prevented a single movement."