The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-09-26
CROCODILE AND
TIGER BATTLE.
A Thrilling Combat Witnessed by
Lionel Smith, an African Ex-
pIorer.

till his head had passed within a
couple of yards of the tiger, says
Lionel Smith, in Macmillan
Magazine. Why had he not seiz-
ed him? Had ne thought better
OF it, and sheered off? Not he!
For a moment he lay still; then
the surface of the water was viol-
emily broken, and the powerful
tail struck the tiger a tremendous
blow on the head and shoulders.
With roar that shook the woods,
the tiger threw up his head, but
before he could leap back TWO
great gaping jaws were thrust
above the water, and clashed to-
gether where the tigers nose had
been a moment before. The Gro
codile had missed his aim, but his
great teeth closed upon the
tigers left cheek and on the tough
hide Of his neck and held him as
in a wise Then followed a terri
BILE struggle; the crocodile trying
to drag the tiger into the river,
and the tiger, with his claws
thrust deep into the sandy bank,
resisting with all his might.
With all his weight, and with for
ward sweeps of his powerful tail,
the crocodile dragged at the ag-
onized brute, whose roars of rage
and pain were terrible to hear.
My nerves quivered and my rifle
shook in my hand, though my ex-
perience with big game had not
been devoid Of thrilling moments;
but the battle was so near, and so
terrific.
The unequal struggle had moved
me, and found myself eagerly
watching to give aid; but a shot to
be effective must be planted be-
hind the shoulder, and that was
under water l could only bide
my time and watch the tug-of-war.
Sometimes one beast, sometimes
the other, Jagged in his efforts.
Slowly, inch by inch, the tiger
was dragged from his launches;
then realizing his danger hercu-
lean effort would throw him back
IN his former position. Then the
crocodile would dark and tear and
sweep his great tail, and the un-
lucky victim, torn and mutilated
would growl his agony with terify-
ing intensity. Several Of these
bouts came, and still the tiger
held his ground But now his
foe, impatient for the end chang
ed his tactics, and to secure a
better hold hector a moment re.
Taxed his grip In one instant
the tiger had wrenched his torn
cheek from the loosened jaws, and
in another his fangs crunched with
maddened force through the bony
jaw and out-spread tongue of the
reptile, whose swirling tail told
its own tale. The bitter was bit
and the struggle was now more
equal. The tiger could drag at
his enemy without being fayed
alive, and drag he did. Despite
his loss of blood, at one tremen-
dous lift he gained a foot, then
drawing back, first one paw and
then the other he repeated the
process, and foot by foot the
struggling, snorting reptile was
drawn over the edge of the slope.
Now my chance came. AS he
thrust forward his short forelegs
the white Of his shoulder showed,
and in quick succession l fired
twice at the unguarded spot. The
effort was instantaneous; the tail
whirled in the air, the front paws
lost their holt, and the brute lay
an inert mass. which the tiger
dragged still further up the slope.
Then he stopped and relaxed his
hold; for moment he held him
self rigid and ready, then he
dropped his muzzle down to that
Of his PROSTATE foe, shifted at him
once, twice, and then with low
growl-perhaps of wonder, per
haps of defance-he turned and