But a terrific growl, and a huge tigress, with a spear through her shoulder, leaped forth, and miraculously passed us. In her rage, and probable pain, no less than fear at the great number of her enemies, she darted by unheedingly of two such puny hunters as ourselves; but suddenly she stopped to attack a nobler prey—the elephant with the ladies on its back! The spearmen-guard fled like cowards, as they were—then slaying the poor mahout with a single blow of her paw, the savage cat, gnashing her teeth, roaring and foaming with rage, leaped upon the elephant’s back, clinging with her huge claws to the frail howdah.
“The women! the women!—to their rescue!” shouted my brother.
I was, for the moment, bewildered; and, clutching his arm, cried,—
“Stay!—for Heaven’s sake, stay! It would be madness to go!”
“Stand by, Claud!” he replied, fiercely, shaking me off—“it would be cowardice to remain here!” and running up to the elephant, he took quick aim—too quick, for the bullet but grazing its sides, the beast, hearing the approach of its new enemy, crouched down, lashed her tail with fury, and gave one sharp, long growl. Martin drew his creese, but it would have been as useless as a bodkin to have preserved his life, had not a bullet from my rifle caused the animal to reel over; taking instant advantage of this, my brother again and again plunged his weapon into its sides. The brute being killed, we clambered to the assistance of the shrieking women within the howdah. Tearing aside the curtains, we saw two girls, half dead with fright, supporting the form of another. But at the sight of that other, I exclaimed,—
“Thank God, Martin, you were no coward!”
“Marie, Marie!—our cousin! She is lifeless—perhaps, dying! Water, Claud, water!” but it was unnecessary, she had but swooned, for reviving, she took a hand of each, saying,—
“My cousins, my dear cousins! Heaven alone must have sent you to our aid. It was at your peril I fainted. But the Princess?” she said, turning to one of her companions.
“Is, thanks to these brave sahibs, dear Marie, unharmed.”
“How is it that you are here in this howdah? Who are these ladies?” asked Martin, very savagely, for, as he afterwards told me, he feared that all three were the wives of the Pangeran.