The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-04-06
MY FIRST TIGER.

NO power or QoSCT1pCOn, 0lGlor 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 I 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 / hope to be able to
pass muster. Having come to this un-
derstanding with myself, jog OH 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
as the sun begins to show Itself from out
a rather dismal, gloomy-looEng sky.
"Who, In the name of Fortune, are all
these felows?" I exclaim, as we come to
spot where about one hundred niggers
are congregated.
"Those," answers our host, seeming
ly astonished at the question, "those
are the beaters." / 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 ShOL0h (thicket) is first to
be opened by the ssbeaters = 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
iangle-path for about ten minutes, when
suddenly our guide halts, which neces-
states our doing likewise.
6 It would be better speaking in a
very low and subdued voice-'st to talk
as little as possible, now and then only
in whisper, for we ore approaching the
ground"
eundertone. Then comes an admonition
e chorus of Hush p after which we
again jog on Ill the same fashion, but In
the most profound silence, makiog as
little noise as possible in thrusting aside
ethe 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 grass land, 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 helter-skelter-in fact
my whole soul is stepped IN tigers, so
what is more natural than that at last I
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 for any emer-
gency. Ny excitement thaws when he
breathes the explanation. "There is
the place where he dragged down the
eaTcase.
Suppressed laughter is within hearing,
and / am painfully aware that / have
again made fool of myself. Tie others
having recovered themselves from being
. amused at my expense, and / having
lapsed into less warlike position, we
then cross patch of grass land to OBJ
Z taln q nearer view of the spot indicated.
There, plain enough, large gap in the
underground is to be seen, and there, as
plain, are the marks where some heavy
animal has been dragged along the
ground.
4 thought it was perhaps tiger you
were pointing at, say I playfully and
aloud, totally forgetting in my sudden
revuIsion of feeling the previous solemn
warning we had all received.
A bombshell might have fallen among
us, to Judge by the expression of horror
thas elbows itself in each countenance at
my utter disregard of caution. Each
forefnger of each right hand is held ur
at me mechanically, and each tongue
biaeee forth the solemn and warning