I called to my friend to shoot, as the density of the thicket made it very probable that my fire would be lost, by the ball glancing among the shrubbery.
But my friend was in the same predicament, and I quickly formed a plan of operations.
[Illustration: GENERAL ACTIVITY.] We were both good shots, and I thought our safety lay in killing the beast as he rose in the air.

Aiming at his head, I stepped slowly backward, and shouted to my friend to cover the tiger and shoot as he sprang.

All this occurred in less time than I tell of it.

Hardly had I stepped two paces backward when the tiger leaped toward me.

As he rose, his throat was exposed for a moment, and I planted a bullet in his breast.