Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-04-06

just above Chinsura, the party were
started by the cry
"The tiger! the tiger !" which came
from one Of the native guides.
The water buckets were dropped
and all hands rushed for the boat, but
Just as White placed his right foot ovel
the bows, a piercing shrek sounded in
his ca r, and on turning, he beheld, just
beyond the spring, and on the edge of
the thick jungle, his only brother, d
youth not more than sixteen years Of
age, within the fatal grasp of the tiger.
The ill-fated boy gave one more cry,
and then the sharp fangs of the brute
monarch closed upon his throat, and the
purple life-tide went forth from heart
that soon ceased beating.
The horror stricken White gained the
ship, but it was in a state of mind which
for some time totally untitled him for
work, and he was just getting over his
peculiar debility when his nerves were
again set in quick vibration by the pres
ence of the animal which Mr.. Bowditch
had brought on board.
"This is the ship of death v' said
White, as Captain Langdon tried to
assure him that there could possibly be
no danger; "the spirit of death is on
board the Cremona, and woe be to him
who first feels its cold grippe"
81 thought you had got over your
fright" said Captain Langdon in return
as White let go of the wheel with his
right hand and drew the sleeve of his
jacket across his eyes.
"Fright, sir" answered the hardy
sailor, as he raised his eyes from the
compass, and regarded his commander
with mournful look ; "was it fright,
sir, to have an only brother sacrificed to
the tiger demon to have left that
boys bones to wliten beneath the hea-
then sun of Bengal?
"Oh, sir, l saw that boys face as it
seemed turned with mute supplication
up towards the spotted satan, and
heard his agonizing cry for mercy as
the fiery balls of the monster cleaned
upon him-and oh, Cod saw that
monsters long, white fangs as they set
tied into the tender flesh of my brother S
neck, and | knew that he was shaking
his fendish thirst from the fountain of
life that was worth more to me than
all the world beside. Call it not "a
fright. sir-think me not foolish that
weep th"s for my brother. The fend
is with us now! The tiger-demon is
upon our deck, and | know that there
shall be one death the more, now that
he has Gomez
As White ceased speaking the low
growl of the tiger came rumbling up
from the hold, and for a season the
poor man could muster scarcely strength
enough to steady the ships helm.
Captain Langdon walked thought
fully forward, and even he could not
help wishing that Mr.. Bowditch had
chosen some other mode of conveyance
for the tiger. Had it been young
animal, the case would have been diff
ferent, but the tiger was we'll full
grown, of a powerful build, and withal,
not over month from his native jungle,
where he was captured by large party
of hunters, of which MIR. Bowditch was
member, and partly as a trophy of his
own prowess, and partly as a subject of
curiosity, he had determined to take
it home with him.
The ship pursued her course for three
weeks with nothing to break the usual
quiet of a pleasant sea-voyage, and even
till after she doubled Good Hope, every
thing went on well, if we may except
the slight uneasiness occasioned by the
frequent bowling of the dreaded occu-
pant of the hold; and even that caused
no real alarm, save in the breast of
Harry White.
1t was pleasant afternoon, after the
ship had entered the trade winds; the
sheets and tacks and the braces remained
just as they had been Delayed forty-eigbt
hours before, and the sky was as clear
and cloudless as an infants heart.
The Captain and the owner stood
just abaft the wheel. Harry White
had the helm, and most of the men
were lounging about the deck, while
Mary Bowditch as blithe and happy as
an uncaged lark, was sporting among
tie coils of rigging that hung from the
life-rail. For several hours the tiger
had been unusually restive, and at the
present moment was sending forth the
most dismal howlings, which at length
rose to such pitch that little Mary
started away from her usual playing
ground, and crept up to the side of her
father.
"Come here, Kouli," said Mr.. Bow
ditch, addressing one of the Malay
servants, who stood near the starboard
gangway; "what is the matter with the
tiger?'
Kouli had professed to understand
thoroughly the training of the tiger,
and for that very reason he had been
chosen to accompany the owner to the
States. Now perhaps all that the Malay
professed was true, but one thing is
certain-it is a very different affair to
take care of a full-grown tiger on ship
board, from the same Office on shore,
but nevertheless he answered, unhesita-
tingly-
"He wants the light and fresh air,
sir"
"Then let him have it." said Mr..