Page:Jungle Joe, pride of the circus; the story of a trick elephant (IA junglejoeprideof00hawk).pdf/131

 feet away creeping slowly towards him. Like a flash, the thought of tigers rushed through his mind.

Then that which he had thought the shape of a tiger came out into a patch of moonlight, about twenty-five feet away, and he was certain.

It was a tiger and the king of all tigers. Ali could plainly see the mighty shoulder, with the tense muscles under the beautiful coat, the great head, the slowly lashing tail, and worst of all, the phosphorescent eyes, that gleamed like two great coals. The mighty beast had one forepaw advanced and partly raised. Whether he was about to spring or not, Ali could not tell.

Ali's first thought as the king of tigers came so plainly into view within springing distance of him was one of great fear.