Guard rushed after him.

The creature fell at the reports, but scrambled up as the dog charged upon him, and tried to defend himself.

But the bullets had riddled him.

In an instant, Guard had him by the throat: he was dead.

There were five shot-holes in the carcass: one of them, at least, must have been received when we fired at him from the boat.
It was a very strong, muscular creature, with short stout legs and broad feet, with claws not so sharp and retractile as a lynx's; seemingly intermediate between a cat's claws and a dog's nails.