hout or rather yell was heard in the
direction of the Warren on the left, and at a considerable distance, but
it grew louder and approached nearer every moment.

'There is certainly something in the wind now,' said the gentlemen.
Every eye was upon the alert, and the carriage within two hundred paces
of our party.

'Ha, there he goes!' said William.

'There he goes!' cried Frederick, as the tiger darted across the park
towards the carriage. 'He'll make at the horses. See! see! he has
actually fastened upon poor Culina! No, 'tis Apicius, uncle's grand
favourite. Look at the horses, how they rear and tear away!'

'Now,' said Sir William, 'a little in this direction to be out of his
side-sight. Remember we must act in concert, and all fire at his head at
the same moment. A single bullet would but interrupt his attentions to
poor Apicius, and call them to ourselves, but two brace must surely
disable him.'

'Oh, father,' cried William, 'how terrified the horses are! See how they
plunge and rear, first on one side the road, then on the other; they
will upset poor Uncle Geff to a certainty. Look, the footman leaps off
like lightning, and now the coachman follows him. See, they are climbing
up into the old oak, and leave the horses to their fate, the cowards!
The poor beasts are perfectly mad. Now they have done it. The fore-wheel
has struck against the curbstone and flown off, and now the hind-wheel
on the same side is off too, and down goes the carriage. I'm sure I
heard poor Uncle Geff cry out, but the tiger still keeps hold on the
horse's shoulders.'

'Now there's a moment's pause,' said the baronet. 'Fire at his head!'
They did so, and their aim was so just that the creature fell instantly,
but his efforts to rise, in which he nearly succeeded two or three
times, filled the crowd which was now assembling with dismay.

'Mr. Stanhope will lend you his pistols, boys,' said Sir William. 'Go
nearer, if you like, and share the honour of giving the beast his
quietus.'

The youths took the arms exultingly, and advancing boldly towards the
animal, who still writhed in fearful strength, they fired again at his
head, and he then sunk to rise no more. It seems he had actually taken
refuge in a hollow of the Warren, but the keepers had secured the
entrance so imperfectly that he easily effected his escape.

A loud cry of 'Victory! victory!' was uttered by the surrounding
multitude, and the words 'Brave boys!' 'True Clairmont