(_Suggested by the claim of a machine-gun team to have annihilated an
enemy wire party: no bodies were found however_)
To-day I killed a tiger near my shack
Among the trees: at least, it must have been,
Because his hide was yellow, striped with black,
And his eyes were green.
I crept up close and slung a pointed stone
With all my might: I must have hit his head,
For there he died without a twitch or groan,
And he lay there dead.
I expect that he'd escaped from a Wild Beast Show
By pulling down his cage with an angry tear;
He'd killed and wounded all the people--so
He was hiding there.
I brought my brother up as quick's I could
But there was nothing left when he did come:
The tiger's mate was watching in the wood
And she'd dragged him home.
But, anyhow, I killed him by the shack,
'Cause--listen!--when we hunted in the wood
My brother found my pointed stone all black
With the clotted blood.
(+Nursery Memories+)