India, having once rambled into a jungle
adjoining the British encampment, suddenly encountered a Bengal tiger.
The meeting was evidently most unexpected on both sides, and both
parties made a dead halt, earnestly gazing at each other. The officer
had no fire-arms with him, although he had his regulation sword by his
side; but that he knew would be no defence if he had to struggle for
life with such a fearful antagonist. He was, however, a man of
undaunted courage, and he had heard that even a Bengal tiger might be
checked by looking him steadily in the face.

"His only artillery being, like a lady's, that of his eyes, he directed
them point blank at the tiger. He would have infinitely preferred a
rifle, as he was not at all sure but that his eyes might miss fire.
However, after a few minutes, during which the tiger had been crouched
ready for his spring, the animal appeared disturbed and irresolute,
slunk on one side, and then attempted to crawl round behind the officer.

"This, of course, the officer would not permit, and he turned to the
tiger as the tiger turned, with the same constancy that, Tom Moore says,
the `sunflower turns to the sun.' The tiger then darted into the
thicket, and tried to catch him by coming suddenly upon him from another
quarter, and taking him by surprise; but our officer was wide awake, as
you may suppose, and the tiger, finding that it was no go, at last went
off himself, and the officer immediately went off too, as fast he could,
to the encampment."

"I am glad to have heard your narrative, Major," replied Swinton; "for
many doubts have been thrown upon the question of the power of the human
eye, and your opinion is a very corroborative one."

"Do not you imagine that the lion-tamers who exhibit in Europe have
taken advantage of this peculiar fact?"

"I have no doubt but that it is one of their great helps; but I think
that they resort to other means, which have increased the instinctive
fear that the animals have of them. I have witnessed these exhibitions,
and always observed that the man never for a moment took his eyes off
the animal which he was playing with or commanding."

"I have observed that also; but what are the other means to which you
allude?"

"I cannot positively say, but I can only express an opinion. The most
painful and most stunning effects of a blow upon any part of the body,
not only of man but of brutes, is a blow on the nose. Many animals,
such as th