DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0209
PRESERVATION OF MR. SCHMITT, &C. 131
ance of the sufferer. He pointed his gun, but the motions
both of the Hottentot and tiger, in roiling about and strug-
gling, were so swift, that he durst not venture to pull the
trigger, lest he should injure Philip. The tiger perceiving
him take aim, instantly quitted his hold, worked himself from
under the Hottentot, and Hew7 like lightning upon Brother
Schmitt. As (he gun was of no use in such close quarters,
he let it fall, and presented hts left arm to shield his face;
the tiger seized it with his jaw; brother Schmitt, with the
satire arm, catching one of his paws, to prevent his out-
stretched claws from reaching his body. With the other
paw, however, the tiger continued striking tow’ards his breast,
and tearing his clothes. Both fell in the scuffle, and provi-
dentially, in such a position, that the missionary’s knee came
to rest on the pit of the tiger’s stomach. At the same time,
he grasped the animal’s throat with his right hand, keeping
him down with ah his might. The seizure of his throat
made the tiger instantly quit his hold, but not before brother
Schmitt had received another bite, nearer the elbow. His
face lay right over that of the tiger’s, w'hose open mouth,
from the pressure of the windpipe, sent forth the most
hideous, hoarse, and convulsive groans, while his starting
eyes, like live coals, seemed to flash with fire. In this situa-
tion, brother Schmitt called aloud to the Hottentots to come
to his rescue, for his strength was fast failing—rage and agony
supplying to the animal extraordinary force in his attempts to
disengage himself. The Hottentots at last ventured to enter
the thicket; and one of them, snatching the loaded gun,
presented it, and shot the tiger, under the missionary’s hand,
right through the heart. Brother Schmitt and Philip were
materially injured in the conflict.
ance of the sufferer. He pointed his gun, but the motions
both of the Hottentot and tiger, in roiling about and strug-
gling, were so swift, that he durst not venture to pull the
trigger, lest he should injure Philip. The tiger perceiving
him take aim, instantly quitted his hold, worked himself from
under the Hottentot, and Hew7 like lightning upon Brother
Schmitt. As (he gun was of no use in such close quarters,
he let it fall, and presented hts left arm to shield his face;
the tiger seized it with his jaw; brother Schmitt, with the
satire arm, catching one of his paws, to prevent his out-
stretched claws from reaching his body. With the other
paw, however, the tiger continued striking tow’ards his breast,
and tearing his clothes. Both fell in the scuffle, and provi-
dentially, in such a position, that the missionary’s knee came
to rest on the pit of the tiger’s stomach. At the same time,
he grasped the animal’s throat with his right hand, keeping
him down with ah his might. The seizure of his throat
made the tiger instantly quit his hold, but not before brother
Schmitt had received another bite, nearer the elbow. His
face lay right over that of the tiger’s, w'hose open mouth,
from the pressure of the windpipe, sent forth the most
hideous, hoarse, and convulsive groans, while his starting
eyes, like live coals, seemed to flash with fire. In this situa-
tion, brother Schmitt called aloud to the Hottentots to come
to his rescue, for his strength was fast failing—rage and agony
supplying to the animal extraordinary force in his attempts to
disengage himself. The Hottentots at last ventured to enter
the thicket; and one of them, snatching the loaded gun,
presented it, and shot the tiger, under the missionary’s hand,
right through the heart. Brother Schmitt and Philip were
materially injured in the conflict.