Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-12-08
Encounter with a Tiger.

The following exciting description
of an encounter with black tiger is
from an article upon Lake Nicaragua,
in an English magazine:
One night after | had been SIX
months on the island, was seated by
the fire, waiting for the plantains that
were boiling in the pot. JOACHIM was
not in the hut, and | was expecting
him home to supper.
Suddenly | heard his shout outside,
and the next instant he dashed into
the hut, banged the door to, and threw
the heavy bar across it. Just as he
fixed it, and painting, leaned his shout
der against the stout wood as an ad-
ditional support, shock, so heavy
that the whole hut quivered. made the
door bend. Another foilowed-then
all was still.
I sprung up at the first sight of 10
achin, but the scene passed so quickly
that no word had been spoken as yet.
But when, after the second blow on
the door, the attempt seemed to be
abandoned on that side, | took the ma
tive by the shoulder and shook him,
for he seemed wild with fear.
HalIoah, man. | said, what is
this ?"
His appearance was CHASTITY. The
old Guatemala jacket he wore, his
lAatho,. brooches, oveu his boots of al
ligator hide, were ripped and cut by
the thorns of the acacias. His face
streamed with blood from many deep
scratches, and persplration drenched
his long, ragged hair.
"A black tiger" he whispered =" it
has chased me across the savannah,
for my horse was tired out. 1t is at
ter me. Oh, listenr'
Then, in the silence, while we held
our breath, and Joachim strained my
hand backward and forward, | heard
the hard snoring of the tiger just out
side the door. No doubt of it! The
beast had singled Joachim out, and lei
the horse 90 free.
While we listened, the direction of
the sound moved about, now up and
now down, accompanied by taps ag
ainSt the door, as If the animal was
resting his paws against it as he rear
ed himself on his hind legs.
At length we heard the sound of
scratching, and | drew my machete
In few seconds a black paw, armed
with terrible crooked claws, was seer
working on our side of the door.
gave a downright cut which nearly
severed it and the animal roaring say
agely, threw himself against the wood
again and again In rage.
Then another pause followed. We
ry soon a noise upon the roof showed
as We had expected, that the enem.
was directing his attack in that direc
ton, and got my Old gun ready. A
soon as | saw the animals fur fired
and wounded him, 40 doubt, for b.
rolled from the root, and we heard hin
fall heavily. Again and again he re
turued to the attempt, and every tim
| caught a glimpse of his black ant
shining skin | fired.
His roaring was terrible to hear
and Joachim, who never had courag,
10 spare, sat on the floor in the corner
striving to close his ears to the sound
All night the struggle lasted at in
| tervals, and every crack OF The hu
was tried by this untiring foe. Ii,
dashed upon the door, he bounded
upon the root, scratching the thatcl
away, but ever disturbed by my fire
he tried the walls aud the floor agail
and again. 1t was an awful night
that's the fact; and |, for my part, diO
not recover from the nervous strait
for months.
With the dawn, the tigers effort
became fainter, aud at length ceased
/; When the sun rose took my gun an,
sailed out to meet the creature il
fair fight. ! followed his trail for
; mile or more, easily guided by tn
clouts of blood which stained the gras
and rocks. And at last | found biz
dead beside the body of Joachim
horse, which he must have destroye
J in the very last effort Of his rage, dy
ing in the act.