Charlie moved as noiselessly as possible.

The path led straight forward, towards the rocks behind, but it was not until within four or five yards of this that any sign of the tiger could be seen.
Then the bushes were burst asunder, and the great yellow body hurled itself forward upon Charlie.

The attack was so sudden and instantaneous that the latter had not even time to raise his rifle to his shoulder.

Almost instinctively, however, he discharged both of the barrels; but was, at the same moment, hurled to the ground, where he lay crushed down by the weight of the tiger, whose hot breath he could feel on his face.

He closed his eyes, only to open them again at the sound of a heavy blow, while a deluge of hot blood flowed over him.