Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/247

 On one occasion a hunter and three native followers had been shooting all day in the tall jungle grass, when without any warning, the white man was overcome with the heat and collapsed. The nearest safe and sheltered place was a grass house raised from the ground, which had been built and was used by the tiger-hunt beaters.

It was too near sunset for the natives to attempt to carry the sick man home for they feared prowling animals. They managed however to get the man into the grass house and then one native went off with all speed for help.

Close to the house was a spring, to which one native hurriedly went, to get cool water to bathe the master's head. Suddenly his companion who had remained behind heard a shout and the next instant the native scrambled into the grass house like a monkey. It appears that while he was kneeling by the spring he saw a pair of tigers approaching to drink. He was entirely unarmed so he simply fled like the wind. He did not climb out of danger an instant too soon, for the largest tiger had followed him and sprung at him, coming so close that its claws tore his white linen breeches.

The tigers were now angry and seemed to be determined to get at the natives for they sniffed around on every side, and even stood on their hind legs trying to reach the platform.

Meanwhile the third native had found some regimental officers who made all haste to go to their sick companion's rescue. As they approached the spot they soon saw fresh tiger foot marks, and a minute or two later, to their astonishment, they beheld the natives poking off the tigers with long sticks. The great creatures were so occupied with their work that they did not notice the coming rear attack. Two shots rang out. One was good and one was bad. The smaller tiger bounded away and was not seen again, but the larger one toppled over with a sound between a roar and a cough, the result of a shot through the lungs. The two natives were mighty glad for the timely help, as they were beginning to fear that the tigers would reach them after all. In a few minutes the sick man was placed on a stretcher, while the natives shouldered the tiger and the whole party started back on the run.

When the man who had been overcome recovered, and was told of the adventure he concluded that he had had a very close shave for his life. A tiger cannot climb, as a matter of fact, but it isn't a comfortable thing to have a couple of the great brutes trying to get at you when you are only a few feet out of reach. The natives could only put up a very poor defence as there was but only one gun in the party, and, as a precaution, the native messenger had taken that one with him.