Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-12-21

Of dates, took deliberate aim at his head
while he lay with his nose buried in the bull
locks throat. He started with an angry
roar from the carcase when the ball bit
him. He stood listening for moment,
then dropped in front of me uttering sui
len growl.-There was nothing but date
bush between us; had no weapon but my
discharged rifle. felt for my pistols, they
had been left on the trce-then knew that
my hour was como and all the sins of my
life flashed with dreadful dstinctness across
my mind. muttered short prayer and
tried to prepare myself for death, which
seemed to be inevitable"
"But what was your peon about all this
time; he had the spare guns with hirnP'
interrupted Rivers.
"Oh, as afterwards learnt, he, poor fel-
low, was trying in vain to fire my double
rifle, but all my locks have bolts, which he
did not understand and u could not cock
it. He was good shikarce, and knew
that was my only chance, SO when he could
do no good, he did nothing. If Mohadeen
or Fukeera had been there, they would
soon have relieved me, but had sent them
both another direction that day. Well some
minutes passed thus. The tiger made no
attempt to come at me, ray Of hope cheer
ed me, he might be dying. | peeped
through the branches, but my heart sank
with me when his bright green eyes met
mine, and his hot breath absolutely blew
upon my face. | slipped back upon my
knees in despair, and growl warned me that
even that slight movement was noticed %
"But why did he not attack you at once?"
observed Rivers.
alt was not his nature" replied the old
woodsman. GA tiger is a suspicious, cow
ardly brute, and will seldom charge unless
he sees his prey distinctly. Now ! was
quite concealed by the date leaves, and
while remained perfectly quiet / had still
chance. Suspense was becoming in
tolerable. My rifle lay useless by my side:
10 attempt to load it would have been instant
death. My knees were bruised by the hard
gravel, but dare not move a joint. The
tormenting mosquitoes swarmed round my
face, but feared to raise my hand to brush
them of. Whenever the wind ruflied the
leaves that sheltered me, a hoarse growl
grated through the stiffness of the night.
Hours that seemed years rolled on, could
hear the village gong clock strike each hour
of that dreadful night, which | thought
would never end. At last came the well
come dawn, and oh! how gladly did hail
the first streaks of light that shot up from
the horizon, for then the tiger rose and sui
kily walked away to some distance. felt
that the danger was past, and rose with a
feeling of relief which cannot describe.
"Such night of suffering was enough
to turn your brain, and only wonder that
you survived it," observed Rivers.
I" But how did your adventure end
suppose you were too thankful for your es.
cape to NEEDLE with the tiger again."
"You shall hear" answered Blowhard;
sent of the peon for the elephant imne,,
diately, and before 8 o'clock old Golian haa
arrived. 1t was all over in five minutes;
The tiger rushed to meet me as soon as
entered the cover, and one ball in the chess
| dropped him dead. 1t was great satisfac,
ton to see the brute fall after the cruel wal
in which he had bullied me, watching md
like rat in trap for nine hours.