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that the beast upon him appeared not to be mauling him； but lay quiet and
motionless upon its prey； and when we were quite close； and the muzzles
of our guns were at the animal's head； I saw the explanation of this sudden
cessation of hostilitiesFelis tigris was dead。
One of our bullets； or one of the last that Delcarte fired； had penetrated
the heart； and the beast had died even as it sprawled forward crushing
Delcarte to the ground。
A moment later； with our assistance； the man had scrambled from
beneath the carcass of his would…be slayer； without a scratch to indicate
how close to death he had been。
Delcarte's buoyance was entirely unruffled。 He came from under the
tiger with a broad grin on his handsome face； nor could I perceive that a
muscle trembled or that his voice showed the least indication of
nervousness or excitement。
With the termination of the adventure； we began to speculate upon the
explanation of the presence of this savage brute at large so great a distance
from its native habitat。 My readings had taught me that it was practically
unknown outside of Asia； and that； so late as the twentieth century； at least；
there had been no savage beasts outside captivity in England。
As we talked； Snider joined us； and I returned his rifle to him。 Taylor
and Delcarte picked up the slain deer； and we all started down toward the
launch； walking slowly。 Delcarte wanted to fetch the tiger's skin； but I had
to deny him permission； since we had no means to properly cure it。
Upon the beach； we skinned the deer and cut away as much meat as
we thought we could dispose of； and as we were again embarking to
continue up the river for fresh water and fuel； we were startled by a series
of screams from the bushes a short distance away。
〃Another Felis tigris；〃 said Taylor。
〃Or a dozen of them；〃 supplemented Delcarte； and； even as he spoke；
there leaped into sight； one after another； eight of the beasts； full grown
magnificent specimens。
At the sight of us； they came charging down like infuriated demons。
I saw that three rifles would be no match for them； and so I gave the word
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to put out from shore； hoping that the 〃tiger；〃 as the ancients called him；
could not swim。
Sure enough； they all halted at the beach； pacing back and forth；
uttering fiendish cries； and glaring at us in the most malevolent manner。
As we motored away； we presently heard the calls of similar animals
far inland。 They seemed to be answering the cries of their fellows at the
water's edge； and from the wide distribution and great volume of the sound
we came to the conclusion that enormous numbers of these beasts must
roam the adjacent country。
〃They have eaten up the inhabitants；〃 murmured Snider； shuddering。
〃I imagine you are right；〃 I agreed； 〃for their extreme boldness and
fearlessness in the presence of man would suggest either that man is
entirely unknown to them； or that they are extremely familiar with him as
their natural and most easily procured prey。〃
〃But where did they come from？〃 asked Delcarte。 〃Could they have
traveled here from Asia？〃
I shook my head。 The thing was a puzzle to me。 I knew that it was
practically beyond reason to imagine that tigers had crossed the mountain
ranges and rivers and all the great continent of Europe to travel this far
from their native lairs； and entirely impossible that they should have
crossed the English Channel at all。 Yet here they were； and in great
numbers。
We continued up the Tamar several miles； filled our casks； and then
landed to cook some of our deer steak； and have the first square meal that
had fallen to our lot since the Coldwater deserted us。 But scarce had we
built our fire and prepared the meat for cooking than Snider； whose eyes
had been constantly roving about the landscape from the moment that we
left the launch； touched me on the arm and pointed to a clump of bushes
which grew a couple of hundred yards away。
Half concealed behind their screening foliage I saw the yellow and
black of a big tiger； and； as I looked； the beast stalked majestically toward
us。 A moment later； he was followed by another and another； and it is
needless to state that we beat a hasty retreat to the launch。
The country was apparently infested by these huge Carnivora； for after
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three other attempts to land and cook our food we were forced to abandon
the idea entirely； as each time we were driven off by hunting tigers。
It was also equally impossible to obtain the necessary ingredients for
our chemical fuel； and； as we had very little left aboard； we determined to
step our folding mast and proceed under sail； hoarding our fuel supply for
use in emergencies。
I may say that it was with no regret that we bid adieu to Tigerland； as
we rechristened the ancient Devon； and； beating out into the Channel；
turned the launch's nose southeast； to round Bolt Head and continue up the
coast toward the Strait of Dover and the North Sea。
I was determined to reach London as soon as possible； that we might
obtain fresh clothing； meet with cultured people； and learn from the lips of
Englishmen the secrets of the two centuries since the East had been
divorced from the West。
Our first stopping place was the Isle of Wight。 We entered the Solent
about ten o'clock one morning； and I must confess that my heart sank as
we came close to shore。 No lighthouse was visible； though one was
plainly indicated upon my map。 Upon neither shore was sign of human
habitation。 We skirted the northern shore of the island in fruitless search
for man； and then at last landed upon an eastern point； where Newport
should have stood； but where only weeds and great trees and tangled wild
wood rioted； and not a single manmade thing was visible to the eye。
Before landing； I had the men substitute soft bullets for the steel…
jacketed projectiles with which their belts and magazines were filled。
Thus equipped； we felt upon more even terms with the tigers； but there
was no sign of the tigers； and I decided that they must be confined to the
mainland。
After eating； we set out in search of fuel； leaving Taylor to guard the
launch。 For some reason I could not trust Snider alone。 I knew that he
looked with disapproval upon my plan to visit England； and I did not
know but what at his first opportunity； he might desert us； taking the
launch with him； and attempt to return to Pan…America。
That he would be fool enough to venture it； I did not doubt。
We had gone inland for a mile or more； and were passing through a
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park…like wood； when we came suddenly upon the first human beings we
had seen since we sighted the English coast。
There were a score of men in the party。 Hairy； half…naked men they
were； resting in the shade of a great tree。 At the first sight of us they
sprang to their feet with wild yells； seizing long spears that had lain beside
them as they rested。
For a matter of fifty yards they ran from us as rapidly as they could；
and then they turned and surveyed us for a moment。 Evidently
emboldened by the scarcity of our numbers； they commenced to advance
upon us； brandishing their spears and shouting horribly。
They were short and muscular of build； with long hair and beards
tangled and matted with filth。 Their heads； however； were shapely； and
their eyes； though fierce and warlike； were intelligent。
Appreciation of these physical attributes came later； of course； when I
had better opportunity to study the men at close range and under
circumstances less fraught with danger and excitement。 At the moment I
saw；