The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-07-06

I lllbl OoRSNAhhJ - ~
excitement, on account of mishap being
4 possible-feel far less at his ease than
when usage gives him the knowledge OF
now much less risk there really is than
his huttered Imagination entertained
The recruit who faces the enemy for the
first time does not take events with the
same comfortable Indifference as the
medal adorned veteran.
The sailor in his first storm is more
apprehensive of danger than when he
has ridden safely through a hundred
And in like manner l, on this occasion,
do not feel that keen appreciation Of the
sport in hand that, no doubt, 1 should
have felt in short, was then decidedly
not quite 50 comfortable as ! have been
on similar and subsequent outings.
am startled out of a reverie, to things
around, by hearing distant and curious
muffled sound What can it be? 1t IS
the beaters, who have gained the top OF
the hill, and are descending and beating
towards the spot where stand. Only o
few more seconds, and it will be decided
whether it is for me to have the first
shot My intense excitement overcomess
everything. l am completely carried
away by it. At this moment what care
l if twenty tigers were to leap from the
jungle! Down come the beaters, and
then l know that for the present, the
tigeris free from any hurt or harm at my
hands. He and | are not TO meet-not
Just yet, at any rate. What din Ola
certainty all the demons in Pandemo-
mum have broken loose. Surely moth
ing human could be the authors of such
hideous sounds Every man of them is
assisting with some sort of noise. Some
yell like fends as they beat the bushes
with sticks provided for the purpose
others indulge in shrill whistling; while
others, again, clash their gongs and tom
toms together in a manner that fails not
in doing sonorous duty the whole form
ing as neat piece of disCord as one could
wish-or rather not wish--to hear, In
fifteen more minutes the entire thicket
has been beaten, and not an animal OF
any sort has made its appearance. The
tiger is not there. The next question is,
Where, then, is he? For the second
time we find ourselves grouped around
our captain, each one anxious for further
information.
That is unfortunate, is his remark, re-
ferring to our non-success. That beat
was the most likely one of all to find him
in The beaters did. not startle a single
deer, so it is evident he has been roam
ing there already. However, still hope
for better luck. If you will follow me, |
will lead you to the next most likely
spot,
Again we move forward with thatsame
soft, noiseless tread as before. This wari-
ness, this attempted avoidance of being
heard, lends an air ofimportance and So
lemnity to our doings. 1t looks like bu-
siness. Presently our leaders come to
stand-still. 5..
This is, perhaps, about the best place
from which to point out your respective
posts. He speaks ina very low, subdued
voice.
We are standing on the side of a small
hill. In front is another. while about
fifty yards below us is an open nullah-
the dried-up bed of mountain stream,
The space for half a hundred yards or
so up each hillside is from jungle, and
covered only by some short grass, and
again each one is shown his particular
standing ground. My post is on the side
of the hill opposite. To my front is the
open unwooded nullah; to my right lies
densely wooded ravine, thus facing me
from left to right there is a considerable
space, open and free for a whistling we'll
aimed bullet to find its billet. Allow
your quarry to have his side towards
you before firing, was the planters last
caution to me, and you will be safe from
his charging you; tiger always charges
in the direction he is looking.
l am excited, very excited; and the
reason for my excitement being so in
tense, l cannot to this day tell. Perhaps
it was an inward unacCountable feeling
that something was going to happen.
grasp my rifle firmly. The beaters are
much nearer now; their sounds are more
distinct. Yes; and now they have
reached the top of the hill on the other
side of the nullah; and now they are
coming down towards the hollow and to-
wards me- Right, left, in every possible
spot, look for some sign, some warning
of az proach-a growl, a stir in the bush,
anything. The hoped-for and long-ex-
peCted sight at length greets my eyes, for
there, one hundred yards to my left, out
from the jungle breaks-a tiger
Out he saunters, twisting his tail and
growing angrily. At the first sight of
him up goes the gun to my shoulder, fin
ger on the trigger; but just in time the
warning voice comes back Allow your
quarry to have his side towards you be-
fore firing. The gun drops from my
shoulder, and watch him. He reaches
the bed of the stream, ard there he hes
itates, as if in doubt whether to seek the
cover of the ravine or move straight on,
The seconds pause is over; then break
ing into smart trot, he keeps along the
water course, and makes for the ravine
on my right. If he keeps on as heis now
going, he must pass me, broadside on,
within fifty yards. On he comes, now
and again turning his head, to see that
none of his tormentors are near. He
has not seen me yet, as / am keeping
we'll behind the tree. He is now straight |
to my front, and not fifty yards distant
shall fire? And now he passes me, |
raise the gun, lean it against the tree,
take steady aim, and fire. i
My shot is a telling one. The brute
rolls over and over, and then lies on the
grass without a move. The beaters
shortly put in an appearance, and it is
with great caution-there is no need COR
my second barrel-for our enemy is per-
fectly dead. The same look Of pride
that shone in Napoleon's eyes when
gazing on the victorious fields of Jena,
Austerlitz, &C., now shines in mine, as l
go on my handiwork. The riae-the
weapon that did the deed-I now handle
with as much affection as the owner
strokes the neck of his pet-his Derby
winner. the duffer of the whole party,
had won the prizel
1 receive their congratulations with
the pride of modest worth"
Bravo! old man, shouts Patsy, as he