A sharp snarl showed that the shot had taken effect.

He dropped the pistol, snatched the other from his mouth, waited for a moment until he could make out the tiger, fired again, and at once dropped to the ground, just as a great body flashed from the window above him.
He and Surajah had both had their matchlocks slung over their shoulders, and before the tiger could recover from its spring, they levelled and fired.

The tiger rolled over, but regained its feet and made towards them.

One of the bullets had, however, struck it on the shoulder and disabled the leg.

Its movements were therefore comparatively slow, and they had time to leap aside.