Maria (GB English) - страница 31

The hunters and the game formed a triangle and both groups could shoot at the same time without offending each other.

–Fire all at once! -shouted José.

–No, no; the dogs! -replied Braulio; and leaving his companion alone, he disappeared.

I realised that a general shot might end it all; but it was certain that some dogs would succumb; and the tiger not being dead, it was easy for him to do mischief by finding us without loaded guns.

Braulio's head, his mouth half-open and panting, his eyes unfolded and his hair dishevelled, peeped out from the reeds, a little behind the trees that defended the beast's back: in his right arm he held his spear, and with his left he deflected the vines that prevented him from seeing well.

We were all speechless; the dogs themselves seemed interested in the end of the game.

José shouted at last:

–Hubi! Killaleon! Hubi! -Hubi! Chop him, Truncho!

It was not advisable to give the beast any respite, and Braulio would not be put at greater risk.

The dogs returned to the attack simultaneously. Another one of them died without a whimper.

The tiger let out a horrified meow.

Braulio appeared behind the group of oak trees, towards our side, wielding the spear shaft without the blade.

The beast turned the same way in search of him; and he cried out:

–Fire! Fire! -leaping back to the same spot where he had struck.

The tiger was looking for him. Lucas had disappeared. Tiburcio was olive-coloured. He took aim and only the bait was burnt.

José fired: the tiger roared again, as if trying to bite its back, and leapt instantly back upon Braulio. The latter, turning again behind the oaks, rushed towards us to pick up the spear that José was throwing at you.

Then the beast faced us. Only my shotgun was available: I fired; the tiger sat on its tail, staggered and fell.

Braulio looked back instinctively to see the effect of the last shot. José, Tiburcio and I were already close behind him, and we all gave a shout of triumph at the same time.