"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. It was the weight
upon him which had crushed Charlie into a state of insensibility. Here
he had lain, for four or five minutes, before Hossein could get the
frightened natives to return, and assist him to lift the great carcass
from his master's body.
Upon examination, it was found that two of the three bullets first
fired had taken effect. One had broken the tiger's shoulder, and
lodged in his body. The other had struck him fairly on the chest, and
had passed within an inch or two of his heart.
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