He clearly knows that he is the most powerful because of his rifle. This can mean that he would want to be known because he is the only one who can kill the tiger, and everyone else only has a machete. He even “fondle his rifle and make sure that it was close beside him,” and as long as he possesses it, he is “king” (Kjelgaard, 54). Over to the village, when Pepe was walking around, he was “aware of the villagers watching him and he knew that their glances would be very respectful” (Kjelgaard, 57). Also the “man with a rifle, the man able to protect them, must necessarily be a hero” (Kjelgaard, 57). Since none of the people would dare to take a tiger’s trail, Pepe challenged himself and, because he did, he must be” revered” (Kjelgaard, 57). Everyone in the village had machete, but the man who owned a rifle must remain supreme” (Kjelgaard, 57). Therefore, Pepe is greatly recognized by the whole village because of his