He heard Hossein's voice, and then became insensible.

When he recovered, he found himself lying with his head supported by Hossein, outside the jungle.
"Is he dead ?" he asked faintly.
"He is dead, Sahib," Hossein replied.

"Let the Sahib drink some brandy, and he will be strong again." Charlie drank some brandy and water, which Hossein held to his lips.
Then the latter raised him to his feet.
Charlie felt his limbs and his ribs.

He was bruised all over, but otherwise unhurt, the blood which covered him having flowed from the tiger.

One of the balls which he had fired had entered the tiger's neck, the other had broken one of its forelegs, and Charlie had been knocked down by the weight of the animal, not by the blow of its formidable paw.
Hossein had sprung forward on the instant, and with one blow of his sharp tulwar, had shorn clear through skin and muscle and bone, and had almost severed the tiger's head from its body.