ome a confirmed habit by that
time, and Flinn commended it on the principle that there was "nothin'
like makin' cocksure of everything!"

Re-opening his eyes and lowering his gun, Slagg beheld the peacock
sailing away in the far distance.

"Sure ye've missed it, but after all it's a most awkward bird to hit--
specially when ye don't pint the gun quite straight. An' the tail, too,
is apt to throw even a crack-shot out--so it is. Niver mind; there's
plenty more where that wan came from."

Thus encouraged, our sportsman reloaded and continued his progress.

It is said that fortune favours the brave, and on that occasion the
proverb was verified. There can be no question that our friend Jim
Slagg was brave. All Irishmen are courageous, therefore it is equally
certain that Flinn was brave, and the attenuated black could not have
been otherwise than brave, else he would not have continued to enjoy
himself in the dangerous neighbourhood of Slagg's gun. As a
consequence, therefore, fortune did favour the sportsmen that day, for
it brought them unexpectedly into the presence of the king of India's
forests--a royal Bengal tiger--tawny skin, round face, glaring eyes, and
black stripes complete from nose to tail!

There was no doubt in Flinn's mind about it, as his actions proved, but
there were considerable doubts in Slagg's mind, as was evinced by his
immediate petrifaction--not with fear, of course, but with something or
other remarkably similar.

Slagg chanced to be walking in advance at the time, making his way with
some trouble through a rather dense bit of jungle. He had by that time
recovered his self-possession so much that he was able to let his mind
wander to other subjects besides sport.

At the moment when the _rencontre_ occurred he chanced to be wandering
in spirit among the groves of Pirate Island. On turning sharp round a
bend in the track, he found himself face to face with the tiger, which
crouched instantly for a spring. As we have said, the sportsman was
instantly petrified. He could not believe his eyes! He must have
believed something, however, else he would not have gazed with such
dreadful intensity. Yes, there, a few feet before him, crouched the
tenant of the menagerie, without the cage--the creature of picture
story-books endued with life!

Had Slagg's life depended on his putting his gun to his shoulder he
would have lost it, for he could not move. His fingers, however, were
gifted