The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-11-25


! third Of their crop is lost.
MIR. FRAMPTON'S INTRODUCTION TO A
ROYAL TIGER.
"When was young shaver, having lived
in the world some twenty years or 50, was
engaged as a sort Of supernumcrary cIerl, in
the house OF Wilson & Brown, at Calcutta
having no one else who could be so easily
spared, they determined to dispatch me on
business negotiation to one Of the native
princes, and eight hundred miles up the
country. | travelled with party Of the -
dragons, commanded by Captain Singsby,
Il man about five years older than myself, and
as good fellow as ever lived. Well, some
how or other, he took great fancy to me,
and nothing would do but that | should ac-
company him in all his sporting expeditions;
for [ should tell you that he was Il thorough
sportsman, and | believe entertained some
strange notion that he should be able to make
one Of me. One unfortunate morning he
came into my tent, and woke me out Of
sound sleep which | had fallen into, after
being kept awake half the night by the most
diabolical bowls and screams that ever were
heard out Of Bedam, expecting every min
ute to see some of their performers step in to
sup, not with, but upon me.
Come, Frampton, wake up man" cried
Slingsby, I" here is glorious news"
What is it 2" said l. shave they found
another hamper of ale among the baggage ?"
Gale! nonsense" was the reply. GA
shikkarec (native hunter) has just come into
camp to say that a young bullock was carried
off yesterday, and is lying half eaten in the
jungle abouta mile from this place so at last,
my boy shall have the pleasure of introduce
ing you to a real live tiger"
" Thank ye," said l, "you will but if it's
at all inconyenient to you this morning you
can put it off; another day will do quite as
we'll for me--Tm not in the least hurry
" 1t was Of no use, however; all | got of
my pains was a poke in the ribs, and an in
junction to lose no time in getting ready.
Before we had done breakfast the great
man of the neighborhood, Rajah somebody
or other, made his appearance on his Gle
plant, attended by train of tawnes, who
were to undertake the agreeable duty OF
beating. Not being considered fit to take
care Of myself-a melancholy fact Of which
was only too conscious-it was dccrocd that
Slngaby and should occupy the same how
dah Accordingly at the time appointed, we
mounted our elephant; and, having forni- |
dabc array Of guns handed up to us, we
started.
As my companion, and indeed every one
else concerned in the matter, evidently con-
sidered it completely as a party of the utmost
pleasure, and seemed to be prepared to njoy |
themselves, so | endeavored to persuade my
self that | did SO too and, consoled by the
reflection that if the tiger had positively eat !
Ell half a bullock yesterday afternoon, it /
never could be worth bis while to scale our
elephant and run the risk Of being shot for
the sake Of dovourng me l felt rather bold .
than otherwise. After proceeding for some
distance through the Jungle and rousng, as
it seemed to me, every beast that had come .
out of Noah'S Ark except tiger, our cle
phant, who had hitherto conducted himself in |
a very quiet and gentlemanly manner, sud
denly raised his trunk, and trumpeted scye-
raj time5-a sure sign, as the mahout inform
ed zig, that q tiger was somewhere close at
hand.
Now, then, Frampton," cried my COM
panion, cooking his double-barrel, /" look
OUT"
"For squalls" returned I; finishing the
sentence for him. "Pray, is there any par
tcuar part they like to be shot in? where
abouts Shall aim?"
w iACiCNCI YOU C"AlI 4CplC'i hcilHSoDJ
" be ready, there he is, by Jupiter; and, as
he spoke, .he long grass about a hundred
yards in front of us was gently agitatel, and
caught glimpse of what appeared yellow
and black streak moving swiftly away in an
direction "Tally ho" shouted
Slingsby, sauting the tigerwith both barrels.
An angry roar proved that the shot had ia
ken effect, and in another moment a large
tiger, lashing his sides with his tail, and his
eyes glaring with rage, came bounding to-
wards ua.
Now, what's to be done ?" exclaimed
eff you had but left him alone, he was going
away as quietly as possible"
Singshy's only reply was smile, and,
Selling another gun, he fired again On re-
ceiying this shot, the tiger stopped for mo-
mcnt and then, with a tremendous bound,
sprang towards us, alighting at the foot Of u
small tree, not yard from the elephants
head.
THAT last shot crippled him." said my
cor we should have had the
pleasure Of his near acquaintance. Now for
the com de grace, fire away" and as he
spoke he leaned forward to take deliberate
aim, when suddenly the front of the howday
gave way, and, to my horror, Slngsby was
precipitated over the elephants head into, as
it seemed to me, the very jaws Of the tiger.
A fierce growl, and a suppressed cry of ago
nv, proved that the monster had seized his