The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-05-14
EBENsBURG, PA, THURSDAY, MAY IA, 1868.

may nave Dasneu across the minds OF the
men, but for the moment they stood in a
body. like so many statues and ere the
captain could give an order or The men
find presence of mind to secure the means
of defence, all eyes were turned from the
crouching tiger TO the person of Harry
White.
He had lashed the helm and drawn his
long sharp knife from his sheath A piece
of tarpauliu was wound round his left arm,
and with his face AS white as marble he
strobe ont upon the quarter deck.
For an instant he stood still Not
muscle moved in his whole system, but
the fire which flashed from his eyes WAS
as bright and sparkling as that which
shone in the orbs of the beast before him.
Back, Harry, back - shouted Captain
Langdon. 'tlere come loaded muskets.
Stand back and let the men fire.
''Keep your bullets till you need them,"
returned White, without moving his eyes
from the tiger IL must do my duty
first ] There is blood upon the demon
that calls to me for vengeance. See-see
those he'll sent fangs that drank my broth
er's life away-hov they glisten and shire!
Brother. brother, you shall be avenged !"
AS he spoke, in accents of almost ma
MAC madness. his body swayed to and
fro for an instant, and then, Just as the
tiger strained his nerves for the fatal leap,
he raised his knife high in the air and
rushed madly forward.
The cleaning eyes Of the beast caught
the approaching form and with low
premonitory growl, the muscles relaxed
their strained tension, and the tiger raised
himself upon his launches.
The white fang gIistened horribly with
in the blood-like lips and the raised paw
revealed the fearful armament of sharp
hooked claws. All hands on board would
have risked much to save the maddened
man, but he was TOO quick for them, and
| every heart ceased its beatings as they
saw the avenger start forward.
The rays of the ting sun cleaned an
instant on the uplilted blade, and on the
next it was buried in the side of the mon
( s;er; but ere 1t was drawn forth, those
long fangs had settled upon the canvass
covering on the left arm, and upon the
instant sharp grating was heard as the
bone cracked and splintered beneath the
meeting jaws Again and again descend
ed the knife, and as each stroke opened
some new passage for the monsters blood
that huge paw found its hold in the quiv-
ering flesh of Harry White
The men rushed forward. and would
fain have rescued their shipmate from his
selfsacrifce but ere they came the two
combatants had rolled over together upon
| the gore stained deck.
In one dark stream mingled the blood
of the tiger and the man. Harry White
had struck his last blow, and the knife
was buried to its heft in the heart of the
beast, from whence he who struck it
thi,her had not the power draw it forth.
"YOu may touch them. if you please"
said kouli Thasan, as he regarded the
fearful scene; ''but all the power on earth
cannot loose the death eripe of The tiger
His claws are set like iron into the sides
of his victim, and till his eyes close his
muscles will not relax"
But the spectators had not long to wait,
for scarcely had the Malay ceased speaks
ing when the royal brute gave one fierce
struggle, and then the giant paws laid
powerless upon the body of the devoted
saiIor-his huge jaws settled back, and
his head fell like leaden weight upon the
deck. The royal tiger was dead Little
Mary was safe-the men were safe, and
oh, how every heart beat with JOY as the
truth was known. Harry White still
| breathed the breath of life
There was one death the more from the
tigers presence on board the ship: but
twas the life OF the beast only that went
out TO fulfill the prophecy, for Harry
White still lives To be sure, he has lost
an arm, and the deep marks of the tigers
claws are left to tell the tale of that fear
I fol struggle but he lives, and from the
bounty of Mr.. Bowditch hs enjoys an in
dependence from the wants of this physi-
cal world
Near Windsor, on the beautiful Thames,
is small red cottage, and the owner
may be seen on any pleasant evening, with
lis pipe in his mouth, sitting on his porch
in large arm chair. which is covered
with huge tigers skin. That man il
+, Harry White and If you wish to zee his
eyes spark lie beneath their heavy lashes
it-t ask him 10 tell you sbont the Tiger:
Ian