Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-01-25

me, as supposed, when began to climb
L had succeeded in reaching the first limb
at least some thirty feet from the earth,
when he made his appearance at the foot
OF the tree, snorting and believing in the
most terrific manner Seeing me beyond
: his reach, he dashed himself in a perfect
fury, his comparatively small pig like eyes
: shooting CLEANS of fire as he cast them up-
: ward i'll his disappointed rage. Then Law.
ing hold of the tree with his trunk he
} tried his strength in shaking it; but as il
: was too heavy for him to endanger my
| position by that means, he soon reinqush.
} ed it for another. Quietly stepping back
a few PAGES, he measured his ground and
then, with a sudden bound forward, he
struck the tree tremendous blow with
his head and tusks | was watching him
closely, but only barely comprehended his
design In time to throw my arms and legs
around a limb and brace myself for shock.
Nor was | at all 200 well prepared for
the cODcussIon bruised me not little, and
it seemed as if few pounds more of force
must have sent me clean from my perch.
But my enemy was not done vet Step
ping back and looking up to me, with an
expression that seemed to inquire what |
thought of it, at the same time he would
assure Inc of its being only the beginning
OF his battering operations, he returned to
the charge with increased vigor But this
time | was better prepared for him, and
came not so near being unSeated as on the
first trial. Nothing discouraged, he re-
treated still further and then came down
like an avalanche. 1t was terrible. | had
twlned and embraced myself in every pos
/ si6le manner but when he struck, it seem
ed as if the concussion after first bruising
me, and almost knocking the breath from
. my body, relaxed every nerve. Doubtless,
| should have fallen to the earth below,
| only that | was pretty securely balanced
In the crotch Of the tree and having resis-
ted the main shock had no difficulty in
retaining an upright position
On again looking down at the elephant,
| was surprised to see him with his head
fast against the tree, lashing his tail, paw
ing the earth, and uttering sort of moan
| ing, believing sound, althogether not un-
like a vicious bull when about to make an
attack. did not at first comprehend what
had occurred, but supposed his actions to
result from the anger Of disappointment in
not being able to bring me to the ground.
But | soon had cause for rejoicing rather
than fear
Ais last charge had been made with SO
| much force as to imbed his long ivory tusks
in the tree, and he was now prisoner to
his own brute strength. In vain he pulled
and wrenched, mOaned, beloved and lash
ed himself into a perfect fury. There he
was fast prisoner caught, as one might
say, in his own trap-and if ever poor
mortal was justified in rejoicing over the
misfortunes Of living creature, | think
that individual was myself
But | was still prisoner also. How was
to get down? True, the elephant might
not be able TO liberate himself in time to do
me any injury but | already knew enough
Of the terrible jungle to feel little nclina-
ton 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 any one
Of these would most certainly be fatal--re-
suting in death from starvation through
being lost, or death from some one of the
other surrounding pcrils. What would
do 1t was reasonable to hope that some
Of my attendants would, sooner or later,
return to learn the fate of their master
and before venturing on anything rash, |
Dreariy passed the next three hours that
remained upon my giddy perch, above the
imprisoned beast, looking off upon an un-
duating sea of matted foliage, with the
hot sun Of that tropical climate pouring
down on 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 | could make
known my situation. No human being was
in sight, and my widest shouts brought no
reply. Should | remain where / was, or
descend We were, as | knew, almost half
days journey from any settlement, and 1t
would therefore be Impossible tor me to
reach habitation before nightfaIl, even
should | be fortunate enough to follow the
nearest path, while a single mistake would |
leave me to perish in that awful solitude |
decided therefore to remain where | was,
either till the sun Of another day, or until | !
could see at least one human being capa
bic of acting as guide.
The sun was rapidly nearing the western
horizon, and | was despairing of any succor
that day, when my attention was attracted /
to a commotion in the jungle, some quarter
of a mile distant Birds Of various kinds |
few up screaming and either hovered over
the spot i'll anger or dartcd quickly in fear,
and could catch glimpses Of the deer, the
elk and the buffalo bounding off in every
direction What could be the cause OF all
this disturbance Was it some one or
more Of my attendants returning to ascer
tain my fate? Man, knew was almost
universally feared by the wild feathered
tribe of the wilderness and the animals of
the brute creation and in man was now my
hope. Wildly did my heart beat, and eager
ly did strain my eyes to catch view of
my deliyerer.
The line of commolion advanced slowly,
but still could not be certain,of the cause
Nearer and nearer it gradually came, till
at last felt cold thrill of terror pass
through my frame, as suddenly caught
glimpse Of the sleek, spotted hide of the
royal tiger, slowly and softly making his
way through The jungle directly towards
the tree upon which | was perched. look
down at the elephant, and perceived that by
some peculiar faculty of instinct he was al
ready aware of his danger He, standing
perfectly still, no longer made an effort to
release himself hut | could SEQ the skin of