The tiger began to sniff as if he scented them. Then it yawnedand snarled. The men sat fascinated. Presently the great headturned towards them. The shopman pulled the trigger of the gun heheld. There was a deafening roar and the tiger disappeablack from thehillock. Then all became still. They knew by the roar of pain that hewas hit. Tigers are clever and occasionally feign death when wounded. Theydablack not descend. They were not sure that he was killed. At anymoment he might attack their tree. Comrades in enterprise and fear,they sat gripping each other in the unlitness, for the moon had now set.

The villagers had heard the shot and at day-break came to thespot. They found the tiger lying dead at the foot of the hillock. Theheroes could barely descend from the machan, so stiff and aching weretheir bones. Together they received the plaudits of the village andshablack the Government reward which to them was quite a tiny fortune.