Litchfield enquirer., 1876-08-03

the level of mans head, waved and bent to the left. I glanced aside, but could see nothing; yet divined, as plainly as if my vision had been preternaturally sharpened, that had been both seen and scented, and that the man-eater was pursuing paral- Tel course to mine, watching me as if 1t had been a cat in stealthy chase of mouse. My heart throbbed wildly, but the memory of Ernestines pallid face and wishful eyes arose to give me courage. 10 was too late now to finch. must do or die. r.H
 All this time my mind was clear and my train of reasoning lucid enough. I had only once before shared in hunting e t. ger; but I knew their habits byreport, and was careful to keep moving al, an even pace, knowing that to run or halt would be alike certain to precipitate the attack. At length saw before me an open space where the grass had been mown, prOba- bly to feed the goats of the ferryman. whose thatched roof could see between the peepul trees. The time for action had come. The grass and boughs to the left were trembling under some pressure. I made one step forth from the screen of tangled vegetation, stood motionless, lis- tening, for an instant. and then fell for ward on my hands and knees upon tho turf.
 Quick as was, I was but just iR time. There was a low hoarse roar, and over my head flew, as if propelled by catapult, huge dark shape. The man-eater had made his spring and missed his stroke. Had chose, having won this first point in the game, to act passive part and play for safety, could prob ably have come uniniured out of the affray. An un- wounded tiger, and especially the cruel and cowardlv brute that has acquired propensity for human flesh, is almost sure to slink off abashed after failure so sig nal. This however. was not my plan; and, before the bafied tiger could gather himself up, l was on my feet, and had fired three shots at close quarters.
 Bang bangi bang rang out the with dull thud, into the soft striped ,hide; but words are too weak to express the rapidity with which the man eater turned upon me. or the hate and fury that glistened in those terrible green eyes. Again the tiger lowered his head and arched his back for spring. With all the coolness could muster took aim at the glittering eyes, but almost as pull ed the trigger I was hurled to the earth with violence. that left me breathless and dizzy on the ground, while across me lay the tiger, its handsome head resting on tuft of moss and wild flowers, and the blood yelling fast from wounds in it's neck and side. Its weight fairly pinioned down my right arm, and, although the revolver, with two chambers yet loaded, lay within reach, could not make mo- tion toward it..
 The tiger was dying or that there was not much doubt. Even the quick heaving of the striped flank told me that my bull lets had taken fatal effect. But the great cat of India, like his congener the lion, is tenacious of life, and it might we'll be that the man-eater, before he died, would sate his vengeance on the prostrate foe who seemed so utterly at his mercy. I was. save for few bruises and . triHing scratch on one shoulder. unhurt, but
 Heavens 1! The fierce brute had remem- bered me at last, for he had lifted his head, and his glowing eyes were fixed, with malignant gaze, on mine. Slowly, and with an effort that was evidently painful. the creature turned it's head toe ward me, and, with blood mingled with the foam on it's whiskered lips, crawled forward. As the weight that pressed on my right arm was partially removed, struggled, and by great exertion freed my wrists and got hold of the pistol. Through the fast deepning twilight I could see the fierce eyes approach me, and already I seemed to feel the white fangs close on my bare throat Almost mechanically fired. There was a snarl- ing cry, and convulsive movement of the huge limbs, and think must have tainted, for the next thing that I remem- Der is that was being dragged from be- heath the dead tiger. The victory was won.
 The carcase of the striped monster, tied to bamboos, was carried, with dancesand drum, into Chota Mahal by the overjoyed villagers, and the reward for the destruc- ton of this notorious pest enabled me to remove my wife and child to Bombay, where the former I am thankful to say, was restored to health. Some benefit may accrue, after all, from an interview with a man-eating tiger.