Page 33 - Malay sketches

THE TIGER
rounded and two elephants are ridden at the cover,
in the hope of driving the wounded tiger from his
shelter. A vain hope, for, when the huge beasts
get inconveniently near to him, the tiger, with a
on to the shoulder of the nearest
great roar, springs
and him to his knees. The terrified
elephant brings
occupants of the howdah are thus deposited on the
ground, but lose no time in picking themselves up
and getting away. The elephant with a scream of
terror whirls round, throwing off the tiger with a
broken tooth, and, accompanied by his fellow,
rushes from the and will not be
place stopped till
several miles have been covered and the river is
between them and their enemy.
Severe maladies want desperate and heroic
remedies. After a short consultation, a young
Malay chief and several of his friends, armed only
with spears, express their determination to seek the
tiger where he lies. They immediately put the plan
into execution. Shoulder to shoulder and with
spears in rest, they advance to the copse. They
have not long to wait in doubt for the wounded and
enraged beast, with open mouth and eyes blazing
fell at them. There is the
purpose, charges straight
shock of flesh against steel, an awful snarling and
straining of muscles and the already badly wounded
17 B