The path leading towards the temple
was pretty wide, and as we went along almost noiselessly, for the
elephant was too well trained to tread upon fallen sticks, it was
just possible we might come upon the tiger suddenly, so we kept
our rifles in readiness in our hands.
"Presently we came in sight of the ruins. No one was at first visible;
but at that very moment the fakir came out from the temple. He
could not see or hear us, for we were rather behind him and still
among the trees, but at once proceeded in a high voice to break
into a singsong prayer. He had not said two words before his voice
was drowned in a terrific roar, and in an instant the tiger had
sprung upon him, struck him to the ground, seized him as a cat would
a mouse, and started off with him at a trot. The brute evidently
had not detected our presence, for he came right towards us. We
halted the Begaum, and, with our fingers on the triggers, awaited
the favorable moment. He was a hundred yards from us when he struck
down his victim; he was not more than fifty when he caught sight
of us. He stopped for an instant in surprise. Charley muttered,
'Both barrels, Harley,' and as the beast turned to plunge into the
jungle, and so showed us his side, we sent four bullets crashing
into him, and he rolled over lifeless.
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