The weekly Butte record., 1861-01-05

"neh ABOUT 10 make an attack. | did not at
frst comprehend what had occurred, but sup
posed his actions to result from the anger of
disappointment in not being able to bring me
to the ground. But l soon had cause for re-
tolcing rather than fear. His last charge had
been made with so much force as to mbed his
long ivory tusks in the tree, and he was now a
prisoner to his own brute strength. Iu vain
he pulled and wrenched, moaned, beloved, and
lashed himself into perfect fury There he
was, fast prisoner-caught, as one might say,
in his own trap; and if ever a poor mortal
was justified in rejoicing over the misfortunes
of living creature, think that individual
was myself
But was still prisoner. How was to
get down and how make my escape when
down? True, the elephant might not be able
to liberate himself in time 10 do me any injury;
but already knew enough of the terrible jun
gle to feel little inclination to set off through it
alone. There were many intricate paths
branching off from the main one over which
had been borne, and the mistake of taking one
oftheSe would almost certainly be fatal-result-
ing in death from starvation, through being
lost, or death from some one of the thousand
other surrounding perls. What should | do
1t was reasonable to hope that some of my at
tendants would, sooner or later return TO learn
the fate of their master and, before venturing
on anything rash, l resolved to wait proper
time for them
Drearily passed the next three hours that l
remained upon my giddy perch, above the i'm.
prisoned beast, looking off upon an undulating
sea of matted foliage, with the hot sun of that
tropical climate pouring down upon me its
scorching rays, and almost sitting me with its
feverish heat How eagerly turned my eyes
in every direction, in the hope of getting
glimpse OF one of my attendants, TO whom l
could make known my situation. No human
being was in sight, and my widest shouts
brought no reply. Should remain where l
was or descend? We were, as l knew, almost
half days journey from any settlement. and
it would therefore be impossible for me to reach
habitation before nightfall, even should l be
fortunate enough to follow tho nearest path.
while single mistake would leave me to perish
in that awful solitude. | decided therefore to
remain where l was, either till the sun of ano-
ther day, or until l should see at least one hui
man being capable of acting as a guide.
The sun was rapidly nearing the western
horizon, and l was despairing of any succor
that day, when my attention was attracted to
commotion in the jungle, some quarter of
mile distant. Birds of various kinds flew up
screaming, and either hovered over the spot in
anger, or darted quickly away in fear, and |
could catch glimpses of the deer, the elk, and
the buffalo, bounding off in every drection-
What could be the cause of this disturbance
Was it some one or more of my attendants
returning to ascertain my fate ? Man, knew
was almost universally feared by the wild, fea-
thered tribe of the wilderness, and the animals
of the brute creation, and in man was my only
hope. Wildly did my breast beat and eagerly
did train my eyes to catch view of my de-
liverer.
i" The line of conmotion advanced slowly,
but still | could not be certain of the cause
Nearer and nearer it gradually came till at last
I felt cold thrill of terror pass through my
frame, as suddenly caught glimpse of the
sleek, spotted side of a royal tiger, slowly and
softly making his way through the jungle d.
rectly toward the tree upon which was perch.
ed. l looked down at the elephant, and
perceived that by some peculiar instinct be was
already aware of his danger. He was stand-
ing perfectly still, no longer making an effort
to release himself; but l could see the skin of
his broad back quiver as if every nerve of his
body were effected.
1.-The tiger gradually drew nearer and at
last stopped within few PAGES, as if to calcu-
late his chances. Then, with brstling hair, he
stole softly round bis intended victim. in a
broad circle, his sharp teeth visible, and his
terrible eyes garing with fierce anger and de-
sire. Then crouching for the spring, he gave
one fearful roar and bound, and fairly landed
upon the back of his helpless victim, who ut
tered one agonised cry-a sort of shrek and
groan combined-th made me pity him enc.
my though he was.
=" But his sufferings were of short duration;
as he could make no resistance, the tiger had
matters all his own way and almost in the
time it takes me to tell you the fact, be had
torn open the throat of the giant beast, and
was drinking his il of the warm gushing blood.
The sight -sickened me, and clung 10 the tree
with closed eyes and dizzy brain.
"When l looked again the terror of the jun
gle was making his retreat, licking his chops
with glu,ted satisfaction. 1 looked down at
the elephant and beheld CORY carcass, still
held to the tree by his tusks He was dead,
and in his death was perhaps my own salvation
though was still afraid to descend, lest |
should be assaied by some carniverous beast,
attracted thither by the smell Of blood.
81 expected nothing but that l should be
compelled to remain there through the night !;
but bethought me to try the virtue of my
voice again, and shouted for help. To my sur
prise and almost frantic JOY, an answer was