Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-05-19
WATCHING FOR A TIGER.

tank where tiger used to drink. There
was large tamarint tree on its banks, and
here | took my post. A village shkaree
accompanied me and soon after sunset we
took up our position on a branch about
twelve feet from the ground. | should
fl"st mention that we fastened an unforlu
nate bullock under the tree for a bait
wen, We remained quietly on our perch for
a couple OF hours without moving, it MIGHT
be eight O'Clock, the moon had risen, and
so clear was the light, that we could see
jackals, at the distance of half mile.
sneakng along towards the village. when
party OF BrInpassies passing by, stopped
TO water their bulGcks at The tank
They oItered for some time and, becom.
Ing impatleut, | gos off The tree with a
single rife in my hand, aud walked tow
ards them, telling them that was wa,ch
ing tiger, upon which they started off
/ Immediately. 1 was saunterinp back in
my post, never dreaming of danger, when
the shikaree gave a low whistle, and
at the same moment growl rose from
some bushes between me and the tree
10 make my situation quite decided, saw
his, (the shikaree's,) black arm pointing
nearly straight under hun, on my side Of
+ his post. 1t was very evident, that could
/ not regain the tree, although | was within
/ twenty yards OF 1t. There was nothing
for me but TO dIop behind bush aud leave
the restto Providence. If had moved
/ then, the tiger wonId have had me 10
! certainty; besides, | trusted to his killing
/ The bullock, and returning 10 the Jungle as
! soon as he had finished his supper. 1t
was terrible to hear the moans ofthe wretch.
ed bullock when the tiger Approached
lie would run TO The end of his rope. ma.
king desperate efforts to break IT, and Then
lie down, shaking in every limb, and bel.
lowing IN the most plieoHS manner. The
tiger saw him PLAIN enough but suspect.
ing something wrong, he walked growing
around the tree, as if he did not observe him.
4 last he made fatal spring, with hor-
rid shrek rather thar roar. cUuld hear
the tortured bullock struggling under him,
ulierlng faint CRIES, which became more
and more feeble every instant, and the /
heavy breathing, halt growl, half snort OF
the monster, as he hung 20 the neck, suck |
ing his life blood. / know not what pos
sessed me this moment, but | could not
resist the temptation ola shot. | crept I'D
softly within ten yards of him, and kneei |
ing behind a cIump OF dates, took de.
liberate aim at his head, while he lay with
his nose buried IN The bullock's throat. -
lie started with an angry roar from the
carcass when the ball hit him. He stood
listening for moment, then dropped in
front oi me, ustering sulen 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 tree. Then felt that my hour
was come, and all the sins of my life flash
ed with dreadful dIsunctness across nv
mind. muuered a short prayer, and
tried to prepare for death, which seemed
inevitable. But what was my peon about all
this time he had the spare guns WITH him
Oh, as | afterwards learned, the poor fell
low, was trying TO fire my double rifle, but
all my locks have bolts which he did not
understand ana he could not cock il. He
was good shIkaree, and knew that was
my only chance, so when he could do no I
good dId nothing. Ii Mohadeen had been /
there he would soon have relieved me but !
| had sent him III another direction that /
day. Well, some minutes passed thus.
The tiger made no attempt to come at
me; a ray of hope cbeered me he nigh: |
be dying. ! peeped through the branches, |
but my heart sunk within me when his /
bright green eyes met mine and his hot |
breath absolutely blew in MY face. /
shpt back upon my knee in despair, and a I
growl warned me that slight movement
was noticed. But why did he not attack
me at once. A tiger is a suspicious, cow
ardly brute, and will seldom charge unless
he sees distinctly. Now | was quite con.
cealed by the date leaves, aud while re
NAMED perfectly quiet had still chance.
Suspense was becoming ntolerabIe. Ny
knees were bruised by the hard gravel, hul
| dared not move Ioni. The torment.
ing mosquitoes swarned around my face,
but | feared to raise my hand to brush
them off. Whenever the wind rufiled the
leaves that sheltered me, a harsh growl
grated through the Stiffness OF the night
Hours that seemed years, rolled on, could
hear the village gong strike each hour of
that dreadful night, which | thought would
never end. Allasl came tbe welcome dawn!
and oh, how gladly did hail the first
streak of light that shot up from the hor.
rzon, for then the tiger rose and sulkily
sratked away 10 some distance. felt that
danger was passed and rose with feeling
o: relief which | cannot describe. Such |
a night of suffering was enough TO turn my |
brain and only wondered that | survived /
it, now sent off the peon for the ele.
phant, and before eight O'Clock old Coli
ah had arrived. |, was all over in FIVE |
minutes. The tiger rushed to NEE. me as
soon as entered the cover, and one ball |
in the chest dropped him down dead
Foreign Sporting, IL. the Ne,D Monthly.