Just as Chute was stooping to drink, Beverley said, in a low but excited voice: 'Look out, Trevor; by Jingo, there's the tiger!' Chute did so, and his heart gave a kind of leap within him when, sure enough, he saw the dreaded tiger, one of vast strength and bulk, passing quietly along the bottom of the nullah, but with something stealthy in its action, with tail and head depressed. In silence Beverley put his rifle to his shoulder, just as the dreadful animal began to climb the bank towards him, and at that moment a ray of sunlight glittering on the barrel caused the tiger to pause and look up, when about twenty yards off. It saw him: the fierce round face seemed to become convulsed with rage; the little ears fell back close; the carbuncular eyes filled with a dreadful glare; from its red mouth a kind of steam was emitted, while its teeth and whiskers seemed to bristle as it drew crouchingly back on its haunches prior to making a tremendous spring. Ready to take it in flank, Chute here cocked his rifle, when Beverley, not without some misgivings, sighted it near the shoulder, and fired both barrels in quick succession. Then a triumphant shout escaped him, for on the smoke clearing away he saw the tiger lying motionless on its side, with its back towards him. 'You should have reserved the fire of one barrel,' said Chute, 'for the animal may not be dead, and it may charge us yet.' 'I have knocked the brute fairly over,' replied Beverley; 'don't fire, Chute, please, as, for Ida's sake, I wish to have all the glory of the day.' And without even reloading his rifle the heedless fellow rushed towards the fallen animal, which was certainly lying quietly enough among the jungle-grass that clothed the rough sides of the water-course. The tiger suddenly rose with a frightful roar, that made the jungle re-echo; and springing upon Beverley with teeth and claws, they rolled together to the bottom of the nullah! Two of the native attendants fled, and two clambered up a tree. Left thus alone, with a heart full of horror, anxiety, and trepidation, Trevor Chute went plunging down the hollow into which his friend had vanished, and from whence some indescribable, but yet terrible sounds, seemed to ascend. He could see nothing of Beverley; but suddenly the crashing of branches, and the swaying of the tall feathery grass, announced the whereabouts of the tiger, which became visible a few yards off, apparently furious with rage and pain, and tearing everything within its reach to pieces. On Trevor firing, his ball had the effect of making it spring into the air with a tremendous bound; but the contents of his second barrel took the savage right in the heart, after which it rolled dead to the bottom of the nullah.