180 A PROVIDENTIAL DELIVERANCE.

cautiously, ran foul of the stern and broke the flag-
staff. They therefore put into a creck, and some
of the men landed near a wood to fell a tree to
make a new staff. Hoping to be able to procure
some fresh meat for supper, Mr Haensel accom-
panied them, armed with his double-barrelled gun.
While they were at their work he walked outside
the thicket, eagerly searching for game, and soon
discovered among the high grass an object which,
by its motions, he mistook for the back of a hare.
He took aim, and was just about to fire, when the
animal rose up and proved to be a tiger, of which
the top of the head only had been visible. In-
voluntarily he dropt his arm and stood motionless
with horror, expecting that the creature would im-
mediately make a spring at him. He had given
himself up for lost, but, providentially, the beast
appeared as much alarmed as he was, and after
looking at him for a few moments, turned slowly
about and began to creep away, like a frightened
cat, with his belly close to the ground; then, gradu-
ally quickening his pace, fled with precipitation
into the wood.

some time elapsed before the missionary re-
covered self-possession sufficient to retrace his steps
to the beach, for he felt his very heart tremble
within him (as he forcibly expresses himself). His
perils, however, were not yet ended. As he ap-