r noticing it. At last it reached the spot at which they had first
seen it. The child's cry, but this time low and querulous, again rose.
With quicker steps than before it moved on, but still not directly
towards the center, to the great relief of the two subalterns, who had
feared that it might attack from such a direction that they would not
dare to fire for fear of hitting the cage. Fortunately it passed that
point, and, crouching, moved towards the bushes.

Wilson and Richards had their rifles now at their shoulders, but, in the
feeble and uncertain light, felt by no means sure of hitting their
mark, though it was but some thirty yards away. Almost breathlessly they
listened for the Doctor's rifle, but both started when the flash and
sharp crack broke on the stillness. There was a sudden snarl of pain,
the tiger gave a spring in the air, and then fell, rolling over and
over.

"It is not killed!" the shikari exclaimed. "Fire when it gets up."

Suddenly it rose to its feet, and with a loud roar sprang towards the
thicket. The two subalterns fired, but the movements of the dimly seen
creature were so swift that they felt by no means sure that they had hit
it. Then came, almost simultaneously, a loud shriek from the woman, of
a very different character to the long wails she had before uttered,
followed by a sound of rending and tearing.

"He is breaking down the cage!" Richards exclaimed excitedly, as he and
Wilson hastened to ram another cartridge down their rifles. "Come, we
must go and help the Doctor."

But a moment later came another report of a rifle, and then all was
silent. Then the Doctor's voice was heard.

"Don't get down from the tree yet, lads; I think he is dead, but it is
best to make sure first."

There was a pause, and then another rifle shot, followed by the shout
"All right; he is as dead as a door nail now. Mind your rifles as you
climb down."

"Fancy thinking of that," Wilson said, "when you have just killed a
tiger! I haven't capped mine yet; have you, Richards?"

"I have just put it on, but will take it off again. Here, old man, you
get down first, and we will hand the guns to you."--this to the shikari.

With some difficulty they scrambled down from the tree.

"Now we may as well cap our rifles," Richards said; "the brute may not
be dead after all."

They approached the bush cautiously.

"You are quite sure he is dead, Doctor?"

"Quite sure; do you think I don't know when a tiger