ore them a large tiger, which had been
following the herd, and was now going to seize hold of one of the slain
deer. The beast looked at them, and seemed about to spring. Neither of
them had re-loaded his rifle, Tom immediately began to do so, keeping
his eyes on the tiger.

"Don't move, Desmond," he cried out, "or the brute will spring on you!"
Desmond, imitating Tom's coolness, also began to load, the tiger in the
mean time lashing his tail and showing his huge teeth, while he kept a
paw on one of the deer, which he seemed to claim as his prize.

"Now!" cried Tom. "I'll fire at his head, you at his shoulder."

Just as the tiger was about to make a spring which might have proved
fatal to one of the party, Tom fired and hit him in the head. The
creature gave a bound into the air. Desmond's bullet struck him at the
same moment and he rolled over dead.

"Well done, your honour!" cried Casey, who had just come up; "that was a
fine shot."

"Hurrah! we shall have some venison now," exclaimed Billy, who followed
him.

"We shall want it," said Tom, "if we have to climb those mountains
ahead, for very likely we shall find no food there."

The deer were collected, and without delay all hands set to work to cook
some of the fresh flesh and to dry the remainder.

Three days after this they found themselves at the foot of a large and
lofty mountain, which if they were to get to the south must be crossed.
Each man cut a stout stick, the end of which he pointed in the fire.
Their dried meat held out; fortunately they shot a couple more deer out
of a herd which came to drink at a pool near their camp, and thus the
next morning at daybreak, with their provisions strapped on their backs,
they commenced the ascent. The cone which they had seen in the distance
rose high on their left hand, but they discovered a passage lower down.
Up and up they climbed, feeling the cold increase, and suffering
intensely after the heat of the plain. At length they could with
difficulty breathe, and a desire to sleep seized all the party. Tom,
knowing the danger of giving way to it, urged his companions to keep
moving. Once Peter sat down, declaring that he could go no further.
Tom and Desmond dragged him up, and told Casey to prick him on with the
point of his stick if he attempted to stop again. Poor Billy puffed and
panted, and at last declared that "he must have a snooze."

"It won't be until you are over the other side," cried Desm