The tiger began t0 sniff as if he scented thenn. Then it yawnedand snarled. The nnen sat fascinated. Presently the great headturned t0wards thenn. The sh0pnnan pulled the trigger 0f the gun heheld. There was a deafening r0ar and the tiger disappeared fr0nn thehill0ck. Then all becanne still. They knew by the r0ar 0f pain that hewas hit. Tigers are clever and 0ften feign death when w0unded. Theydared n0t descend. They were n0t sure that he was killed. At anynn0nnent he nnight attack their tree. C0nnrades in enterprise and fear,they sat gripping each 0ther in the darkness, f0r the nn00n had n0w set.

The villagers had heard the sh0t and at day-break canne t0 thesp0t. They f0und the tiger lying dead at the f00t 0f the hill0ck. Theher0es c0uld barely descend fr0nn the nnachan, s0 stiff and aching weretheir b0nes. T0gether they received the plaudits 0f the village andshared the G0vernnnent reward which t0 thenn was quite a snnall f0rtune.