The tiny sphere of lead darted through the brain and along the spinal marrow as if fired with the vicious energy of a charge of dynamite.
It so happened that the tiger was in the act of making his graceful but fearful leap that was to land him upon the breast of the young man, who had risen to his feet just before firing.

The check at that instant produced a queer result, the like of which is not often seen.

The shock of the bullet crashing into the head of the muscular beast at the instant he was calling into play his prodigious strength intensified that strength to a sudden and astonishing degree.

The consequence was that the tiger, instead of making the leap he intended, made one twice as great and overshot the mark.

From out the gloom the beautiful sinewy body, of which only a glimpse could be caught, emerged as if fired from the throat of a Columbiad and, curving over the shoulders of the man and the boat, dropped into the stream with a splash that sent the water flying in every direction.
Beyond the line of shadow, where the faint moonlight fell upon him, the tiger was seen to be a beast of extraordinary size.