The tiger is a poor baste, anyhow.

I've seen a cat make ten times as strong a fight for its life.
"Holy Moses!" The last exclamation was called from Tim's lips by a sudden jerk.

A huge tiger, far larger than that which had fallen, had sprung up from the brushwood and leaped upon the elephant.

With one forepaw he grasped the howdah, with the other clung to the elephant's shoulder, an inch or two only behind the leg of the mahout.
Charlie snatched the rifle from Tim's hand, and thrust the muzzle into the tiger's mouth, just as the elephant swerved round with sudden fright and pain.

At the same moment the weight of the tiger on the howdah caused the girths to give way; and Charlie, Tim and the tiger fell together on the ground.