The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-05-14
THE TIGERS LEAP.

eve of leaving Calcutta On hes homeward
bound passage. The starboard anchor
hung at the cat head, and the other was
already a-peak-the sails hung in graceful
festoons from the cewlines and buntlines,
the studdingsail gear was all rugged. the
topsail halyards were cleared ready for
running, and all that the good ship waited
for was the presence of Mr. Bowditch, the
owner, who was going home in her
At length MIR. Bowditch came, accom-
panied by his daughter Mary, a girl of
some thirteen years of age, and two Malay
servants. Most of his luggage had been
on board for several days but on the pre-
sent occasion he brought off huge box.
which he desired to have very carefully
taken over the side after all was safe and
snug, and the old ship fairly under head
way, the men learned that the great box
contained no more nor no less than large
Bengal tiger.
At any time the immediate neiehbor>
hood of the royal tiger wears an atmos-
phere anything but pleasant, but when the
nelghborhood is bounded by the narrow
confines of shipboard, it is reasonable to
suppose that some anxiety at least may be
exercised on the occasion. Some of the
sailors on board the Cremona were rather
inclined to superstition-not more so, per-
haps, than the common run of sailors
and under the peculiar circumstances of
the present case they found plenty of food
torISuperstitious dread but then the thing
was done, and it couldn't he undone-the
tiger was on board, and they concluded
that they must make the best Of it
One man in particular, by the name of
White, experienced the utmost dread OF
the forest fyrant, and no assurance on the
part of those Who felt perfectly secure
could set his mind at ease
| The cage was in the hold, directly be-
meath the main hatchway; and ever and
anon, rs the deep savage growI of the
royal Bengal tiger came mp like the rumb-
ling OF an earthquake from the bowels of
the chip, White would start back from
| ms occupation, whatever it might be, and
tremblinRly stand, like one thunderstruck,
till the noise had ceased.
Not many weeks before, White had
been one of party who went up tie
Hoogly as far as Burdwan after a boat
load of ivory; and on their return, as they
were stopping at a spring which bubbles
up on the edge of large jungle just above
Chinsura, the party were startled by the
cry, "The tiger! the tiger!" which came
from one of the native guides.
The wafer buckets were dropped, and
all hands rushed for the boat but just as
White placed his right foot over the bows,
| piercing shrek sounded in his ear and
on turning he beheld, just beyond the
| spring. and on the edge Of the thick jungle,
his only brother, 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 focth from a heart
that soon ceased beating.
''This is the ship Of death ~ said White,
as Captain Langdon tried to assure him
that there could possibly be no danger :;
''the spirit of death is on board the Gre
mona, and woe be to him who feels It's
cold gripe."
81 thought you had got over your
fright" said Cal plain Langdon in return,
hand and drew the sleeve of his jacket
across his eyes.
''Fright, sir - answered the hardy
sailor, as he raised his eye from the com
pass and regarded his commander with q
mournful look ''was it fright, sir, to
have an only brother sacrificed to the tiger
demon to have left that boys bones to
| whiten beneath the heather sun of Ben
gal! Oh, sir, saw that BOYS face as il
seemed turned with mute supplcation III
! towards the spotted Satan, and heard his
agonizing cry for mercy as the frey balls
of the monater cleaned upon him: and
oh, heaven Il saw that monsters long.
white fangs, as they settled into the ten
der flesh of my brothers neck, and knew
that he was shaking his fiendish thirst from
the fountain of life that was worth more
to me than all the world beside Call il
not fright, sir-thiuk me not foolish thai
| weep thus for my brother The fiend is
with Us now The tiger demon is upon
our deck, and / know that there shall b5
one death the more now that he has come :
As White ceased speaking, the low
growl of the tiger came ru,nhling up from
the hold, and for a season the poor mar
could muster scarcely strength enough tC
steady the ships helm
Captain Langdon walked thoughtful,
forward, and even he could not help wish
ing that Mr. Bowditch had chosen some
other mode of conveyance for the tiger
Had it been young animal, the cast
would have been different bnt the tiseI
was full grown, of powerful build, ano
withal not over a month from his nativ,
jungle, where he was captured by larg,
party of hunters, of which Mr.. Bowditcl
was member; and partly as trophy o
his own prowess, and partly as subject o
curiosity, he had determined to take i
home with HIM.
The ship pursued her course for some
weeks with nothing to break the usua
xuiet of pleasant sea voyage and ever
till after she doubled Good Hope every