Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-01-09


ttrip,until the next day. when he said that
We should feel more fresh. and in, better
hunting humor and, il the truth must
be told. when saw the. prints of the O.
gers claws wished that the Spaniard's
advice might be taken. although 1 didn't
dare confess it. for fear of being ridiculed
by Allen. who pushed on ahead, and en-,
couraged the Don and natives. by decla>
ring that tiger would never dare to face
such formidable body Of men.
With some difficulty he managed to get
the men to separate, and advance into the
Jungle, in The form Of crescent. intend.
ing to drive the game before US, until we
reached an open place. where the herds
men informed us we could sit and
shoot as many of the animals as we
pleased. provided the natives would only
beat the bushes, which l was strongly in>
clined to think that they would not do
We had not advanced more than twenty
or thirty PAGES before the dog commen-
ced barking; then We heard the cracking
and rustling OF dried grass and present
ly roar, that caused me to look to the
priming of our rifles. and made our blood
boil through our veins. and glance with
some slight degree of apprehension at
each other, as though requiring support
in case of necessity. The dog answered
the roar with howl, and then came lin
ping towards US with frightful wound
near his fore shoulder. The skin had
been stripped off nearly foot square. as
clean as though knife had been passed
over the parts. and the raw flesh and sin
ews were laid bare. Singular as it may
appear, but little blood flowed from the
wound. and the poor dog with whim.
per. seated himself. and tried TO lick the
spot where the tigers claw had torn him
Let US consider on this," cried Don
Arturo suddenly halting.
The Spaniard was but few PAGES from
Allen and myself-while the natives as
we thought. were spread out on each side,
having been beating the bushes with
their long poles. although for the last few
minutes we had heard nothing OF them.
Before wo had time to answer Don Ar
turo's remark, two fierce roars, which
followed each other like claps of thunder
came directly from the Spaniard's side
and then he saw a pair of eyes cleaning
through the grass that looked like green
globes, and just below The eyes was a
mouth with the lips drawn back. reveal
ing long white tushes covered with foam.
M dos preSevar," mutlered the
Spanissd. dropping his gun. and stagger-
ing towards US as though intoxicated,
while his face turned paIlid with fear.
He had hardly uttered the last word
before saw the tiger make bold leap,
high into the air, and alight within few
feet Of the Don. With another roar, that
awoke the echoes Of that vast Jungle, and
which WAS answered by dozen animals
Of the came species. apparently within a
few rods of us. the tiger crouched for a
spring upon the luckess Don. For an
instant, | would have not given farthing
for his life. forgot that l carried ri
he-I could think Of nothing but the ter
| rible leap and fierce eyes OF the brute, as
he crOuched there, with his legs drawn
well under him, and his glistening teeth
displayed through his halt opened mouth;
and then was awakened from my stupor
by hearing the report Of Aliens rifle
and saw the tiger roll over and over
beating down the dry grass and stunted
bushes. in his struggles, and biting his
thick hide in his fury.
Thank God. Charley, you have sa.
we'd the Don's life," 1 cried. while the
Spaniard only crossed himself, and NUT,
tered confused prayers.
" There's another one 20 come" Al
len shouted, ramnllHg dowa bu.ioG Aur
riedIy.
Sure enough the erie, oi ;hu wounded
animal started the mate from her lair, and
with an angry roar of revenge, she broke
through the grass. aud cruching by the
side of her almost liieless mate, surveyed
US for moment, as though demanding
who had inflicted the injury.
" Fire frst," 1 heard somebody whis,
per at my elbow, and drew up my rife
and let drive. A shrek of rage and pain
came from the brute che struggled TO
her feet, and stroye to draw herself TO-
wards US. and looked the rage she felt
The bullet had broken one of her fore
and hind legs.
In few moments we gazed at each
other and then Allen. moved by com
passion, put An end 10 her sufferings.-
The death OF the female ended our tiger
hunting exhibition that day. We found
in the lair Of the animals, three young ii.
gers. not much larger than lap dogs. aud
play ful as kittens. They were taken to
the plantation. and for some time remaiR
ed the estate, but at length getting
too ferocious. they were sold 10 an Eng.
lishman, and went to London, for the
Geological Garden of that city. The
Spaniard recovered his presence of mind
as soon as all danger was over, and
soundly rated the natives for running at
the first growl Of tiger. although for the
life of me l couldn't blame them.