As the noise stopped he knew, with his tiger instinct, that they would soon find him out, and they appeared sooner than he expected.  Then the howls, screams and banging made the worst and most terrifying noise he had ever heard in a tiger hunt.  He was pretty sure of himself.  He had had some narrow escapes before this, but so far had always managed to get out safely.  So, in spite of the noise, he kept perfectly still.

But these beaters were very daring.  They not only came close to the korinda bush, but they actually parted the branches, and the noise became so terrible and deafening that at last Tranta grew bewildered, and sprang out, scarcely knowing what he was doing, and not caring much, either.

He wished now that he had stayed in the jungle.  Certainly the hunters could have seen him, but he might have crept off in some way.  But now he had no time to think, for, as he sprang out, there was a sharp “Bang,” followed by a “Ping! ping! ping!” and Tranta suddenly felt a sharp pain in his leg.

The pain was so great that he was obliged to go on three legs and hold up the fourth, which hung in a limp manner and hurt him dreadfully.  The fright and shock maddened him, and he turned and faced the hunters defiantly, snarling in his fiercest way and showing his huge mouth and cruel teeth.  But, as he turned, there was another “Ping! ping!”—­a flash of fire almost in his eyes, and Tranta reeled.

The next instant he recovered himself, and, not liking the fire, turned round and made swiftly for the river.  The beaters and hunters followed, and did their best to turn him from the water, but they were not quick enough.  In spite of having only three legs to use, Tranta, with a few swift springs, got to the water first, and there he had the best of it.

He was a beautiful swimmer, and, even with a wounded leg, could swim well enough to get away from his enemies.

A short distance from the shore a small ship was lying at anchor, and Tranta cunningly made straight for it.  The two natives who were in charge of it promptly went over one side as Tranta climbed up the other, and, although a few shots were fired after him as he clambered on board, they went wide of the mark, and Tranta lay down on the small deck and licked his wounded leg.[Footnote:  A fact.—­Author.] He stayed there all that day, and neither the beaters nor the hunters dare go near him.  But at night he crept over the side of the ship and swam to shore, and, as he scrambled out of the water, a well-directed shot killed him.  He was a fine specimen of a tiger, and, as his leg had only been broken, his skin was unharmed, and later occupied a place of honor in a palace.

Tera wondered what had become of Tranta, but, as she was very sleepy and tired, the day passed on, and his absence caused her no uneasiness.  She was a little surprised that he did not appear in the evening, but finally wandered out by herself, and was fortunate enough to come across a fine bullock.  She did not take any of it to her little ones this time.  She knew perfectly well that too much meat would not be good for them, so gave them their usual evening meal of nice warm milk.