THE GAZE OF MAN.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13930, 11 February 1914, Page 7

THE GAZE OF MAN.

Many exaggerated stories have been told of wild beasts cowed by the power of the human eye. It is beyond doubt, however, that few nnimals can long

aclure the steady gaze of man. "W-he-

ther or not the tiger encountered by a sportsman was intimidated wholly

in this manner is left to tho judgment of the reader.

I was travelling by road, he states, somo years ago in India, between Belgaum and Kohlapur. One morning I went out with my bull terrier to shoot spur fowl near the Dak bungalow, in which I intended to remain overnight.

As I was making my way through the jungle I heard a curious choking round, I missed my dog, and on going back for him, came face to face^ with a tiger. He crouched about six yards away, holding the dog by the throat, and with one of his paws on th© dog's body. I stood quiet and the tiger, on seeing me, released his hold, but still kept his paw on the terrier's body. Thug we stared at each other..

My first impulse was to fire both barrels of my shot gun into his eyes, but second thoughts prevailed, and I did not move. All this time neither of us took his eyes off the other. At last tho tiger very quietly lifted his paw from the dog, turned slowly round, and disappeared into tho jungle. I picked up the terrified dog, and found that he had been severely slashed. Eventually ho quite recoverd. I have often since wondered what-would have happened, if ,1 had fired both barrels into tho tiger's eyes. Very likely if I had done so I should not now be alive to tell of it."