The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-04-07
MY FIRST TIGER.

No power of description, either with
the pen or the brush, could possibly be
great enough to enable any one to give
a good or just idea of the grand and i'm
posing scenery that greets us at every
step and which our eyes feast on as we
progress onward. Forests, ravines,
waterfalls, lie at our feet, and there is
grandeur all around. As the gusts of
wind pass over the forests, the tree tops
bend before their force, and almost
fancy am looking on miniature ocean
with its successive undulating wavelets.
To hold my tongue, but to keep my
eyes wide open, is my mental reservation
and by so doing L hope to be able to
pass muster. Having come to this un-
Outstanding with myself, 1 jog on with
less apprehension, and therefore, as is
natural, with considerably more comfort.
We reach the planters snug-looking but
by no means palatial establishment just
AZ the sun begins to show Itself from out
a rather dismal, gloomy-looking sky.
"Who, in the name of Fortune, are all
these fellowss" / exclaim, as we come to
a spot where about one hundred niggers
are oongregated.
"Those," answers our host, seeming
iy astonished at the question, "those
are the beaters." L hear Bolton laugh
ing behind me.
1t had been unanimously carried that
everything was to be under the COM
plete guidance of the planter. He is to
choose which shOtah (thickeD is first to
he opened by the "beaters - in his
hands is left the choice of each separate
position for each individual "gun )" in
him our whole confidence is placed and
that we have put our trust in the right
man we are certain.
Before placing you" he observes,
g shall l show you the spot where the
brute killed the bullock, and also the mark
of the dragging. which is very distinct?"
A general assent whereupon he leads
the way, and we follow in Indian file.
We have proceeded thus along the
jangle-path for about ten minutes, when
suddenly our guide halts, which neces-
states our doing likewise.
1t would be better speaking In a
very Low and subdued voice. to talk
~ little as possible, now and then only
in whisper, for we are approaching the
ground"
''All right !" each one answers in an
. undertone. Then comes an admonition
chorus of Hush 7" after which we
again Jog on in the same fashion, but in
the most profound silence, making as
little noise as possible in thrusting aside
the twigs, and treading like cats. Again
we are suddenly brought to stand-still,
for our guide has stopped at the margin
. of small patch of grassland, and is,
with an uplifted arm, pointing toward
something to which he wishes to draw
our attention. Tigers were and are up
,permost in my thoughts-fanciful en-
counters with tigers did and do run
through my brain heller skelter-in fact
my whole soul liz stepped in tigers, 80
what is more natural than that Mt last l
was face to face with one At the plan
ter's gesture / am at once on the alert,
and bringing my gun to more favor
able position, am prepared tor any emer-
gency. My excitement thaws when he
breathes the explanation. "There is
the place where he dragged down the
carcase.
Suppr. ssed laughter is within hearing,
aud J am painfully aware that / have
again made fool of myself. The others
having recovered themselves from being
amused at my expense, and | having
isp4ed into less warlike position, we
then cross = patch of grassland to OBJ
tain nearer view of the spoil indicated.
There. plain enough, large gap in the
underground is to be seen, and there, as
plain, are the marks where some heavy
arumol has been dragged along the
round.
q" thought it was perhaps tiger you
were pointing ut, say 1 playfully and
aioud, totally forgetting in my sudden
revoision OF feeling the previous solemn
warning we had AL received.
A bombshell might have fallen among
us 20 Judge by the expression of horror
that shows itself in each countenance at
my utter disregard of caution. Each
fore6ngcr of each right hand is held up
at mo mechanically. and each tongue
misses forth the solemn and warning