Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-04
la Hunting AdvenIure.

: tIheattentl0n OF Hawkes. was attracted TO
troop of monkeys in the bottom of the
ravine, somewhat higher than his station.
Their movements ,evincedY some Unusual
excitement. as they skipped from tree to
tree, gesCiculating, ehatterin and screeeh-
ing, as if in great anger. He had heard
that these creatures do, for some reason of
their own. hold tigers in great aversion,
which they never fail to display when they
happen to discover the object of their
wrath, by some such exhibition as he was
now witnessing. In his boyish days he
had seen the movements of magpies give
clue to the line of the fox; and he pre-
sumed that he was perhaps now observing
a similar natural instinct on larger scale.
There was evidently some special cause for
the 'commotiOn which prevailed, so unusual
Z in the heat OF day, AS he was pondering
thiS and wondering ifthc tiger was really
afoot, his gunbearPr whispered the word
bah (tiger1 Where? where is hep"
he CALCULATED quickly, making ready at the
same time. "a" don't see him" No, sa-
hib," replied the attendant. Il only spoke
for you to be prepared I have not seen
him, but the monkeys must have do So"
Tie chattering soon diminished. Hawkes.,
however, kept vigilant lookout near the
spot where the monkeys were still moving
about the trees, but in an undecided sort
of way. He was beginning to think there
must have existed some other cause for their
excifeIhent,w he felt twitch at his coat.
He turned sharply, and his gunbearer
pointed down into the nullah, which en-
tered the ravfhe at nearly right angles, and
which formed portion of his watch and
ward. He followed the direction of the
mans finger, aud peered into the thick un-
dergrowth at tire foot of the trees, which
grew plentifully at the spot, without, for a
few seconds, discerning anything. Quick
ly, however, he caught sight of an object
moving in the shade; and as it passed across
a more open space, saw it was a tiger
sneaking along, with the head and body
low; its whole back, from the snout to thS
setting of the tan. appeared to form one
straight line, the latter appendage being
carried in a dropping state. His rifle was
quickly brought to bear, and he let drive
both barrels in rapid succession, rolling the
tiger over; butit Immediately recovered
itself. sprapg up. roaring with rage and
pain, and catching sight of his adversary
on the rock faced shore above, came bound
ing towards him over the bOulders and
stones at the foot of theslow cliff ON which
Hawkes. stood = The hunter seized his sec
ond gun, and poured in its contents as the
tiger came on, but without the effect of
stopping his headl0ng charge. The 5east-I
reached the base of the rocky height, and, |
making desperate spring, managed to
gaiuaa hold with its fore paws on its top, |
but its fiat and slippery face presented
nothing on which to fix his hind feet, or
give it purchase in dragging itself bodily to
the top. As Hawkes. turned to seize his gun
from the attendant, he perceived that indi-
VidiIal some distance in the rear, racin gWith'l
fullpower toward the nearest tree. 1t was
too late for him to follow suit; retreat was
now out of the question so he dubbed his
gun aud brought it down with force on the
head of the tiger as it rested snarling be-
tween its paws within a few feet of the
striker The beast whined, but did not let !
Crr ire hOl ini ion1 3 or fn 10
its effort to effect a Judgement. The stock
flew into splinters as it came in contact
with the hard skull of the tiger; but
Hawkes. continued to belabor him with the
barrels. He laid on with "a will, but the
result was yet doubtful. Despite the des
perafe blows, the beast maintained his
position, and had he not been weakened by
his wounds. would probably have made
good his object. All this time he had been
growing, with rage depicted in every line
of his eountenance. Suddenly it emitted a
short, low roar, culver seemed to run
thrOi gh it. its jaws relaxed. its eyes lost
their fire. its hold of the rock gave way,
and it fell back crashing among the bould-
ers of rock and bushes into the nullah be-
low. a distant rifle crack accompanying its
downfall. ntHurrah ~ Hawkes. shouted in
mad excitement, branGiShing his gun-bar-
rels. 'Hnrrah! He's cooned. Yoicks Tally
hO!'' Run. for it. For Gods sake, get
lnCO Tree! shouted Norman, from the
otherlsidel of the nullah, in eager, anxious
tones.l He may get up and be at you
again by some path" r 8 No, no; it's all
right He's cooned. ,Tul-lul-lul- laetee -
and Hawkes. continued to make excited
demonstrations as he stood on the rock and
looked over. Get back, man, get back.
Are you mad 20 Norman again shouted
with9mueh anxiety. Perhaps he's only
stunned. [ can't answer for hitting him
again, Run off. confound you; run away,
will your Its all serene. old fellow."4
was the reply, II see bim lying quite still,
and dead as a dOorDail. There he is un-
der thetree.n-I'he he Eastern Hunters.