St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-20


was too dense to see at the distance,
so, going forward about six yards, and
taking position right in front of the
passage, we waited until one of the
shikarees, under cover of our guns,
crept forward to ascertain what was
really within.
''Baghan nahin, Sahib, bachcha hal"
Ctigress gone, sir, but the young is
here,) he reported, and on working our
way up to the passage we soon found,
as he had said, two cubs about six
weeks old lying together amongst "A
heap of bones, off which the absent
parent had evidently been breakfasting
not many hours before. To drag the
little beasts out and leave the place
before the mother returned was the
next move, which was accomplished
satisfactorily, although the whelps
struggled, scratched, and bit with a
fury which astOnished me. The shika
rees took them in charge, and placing
them in a hollow farther up the hill,
again prepared themselves to receive
the mother on her return expedition.
Our intention was to give her dead
ly welcome before she discovered her
loss, which we knew would drive her
lead her to charge in the direction of
the coolies, and, despite consequences,
seize and crush whoever came first.
These coolies numbered twenty, and
were directed to proceed to a portion of
the jungle some distance of, where one
of the hunters thought it likely the
tigress lay in wait. They were then to
beat in the direction of the cave until
the beast was seen or heard returning,
when they might desist 4; but on no ac-
count were they to lose sight of the
trail One of the shikarees headed the
party to examine the ground, and to
warn us if the game was discovered.
As the cave led probably to some
subterranean passage, opening out IN
another direction, as is the case with
several of these hills, it was advisable
to cut off this way of escape, as well as
to prevent Il retreat to the jungle, where
the odds would be against capture
either dead or alive. To attain these
ends, Fairfield and one of the hunters
stationed themselves at the entrance
behind boulder, ready to FIRE on the
first sight of the animals head; while
Blank and |, with the other shikaree,
remained Il few yards to the left, facing
the direction in which, if frightened by
the beaters, the tgress would approach.
And there we sat watching. 1t was IL
full hour before the sound of the beaters
was heard. For little while it was
faint and irregular, manifesting uncer-
tainty as to procedure, but suddenly
the "'tom-toming" grew louder and
louder, denoting success, and continued
for, should say. half an hour in un-
abated vigor, when the sharp crack OF
rifle sounded through the Jungle
either the warning signal, or rash at
tempt to bring the game down prema-
turely. We had all been on the alert,
aud were now dOubly SO, as the crisis,
r. apparently, was close at hand. In "A
few moments the keen ear OF the shl-
karee caught the sound of Il rapid
movement in front of us, and us he
, spoke | could myself hear the approach
of heavy body forcing its way through
the Jungle. There was rush and IL
, crash of branches, and gigantic tigress
sprang on to the rock at the cave mouth
e In second three barrels were dis
= charged, and sent her reeling back from
, the entrance with an appalling roar
Z A voley of slugs followed. Though
|! staggered, however, the 1.-the beast was
l by no means brought down. Recover
= ing herself in an instant, she turned tC
bay, and with flaming eyes and gleam-
ing jaws, was rushing straight upon us
I when she was sent reeling and roaring
0 back again with the contents of the re-
Il naming barrels in her body. Not YET
o diScOmfted, she turned to the cave
mouth, when her quick eye detected
: Fairfield and the shikaree behind the
5 boulder, and, with wild shrek of pair
and passion, she fell upon them.
Il To rush in with knives and axe was
1 the work of a moment; but already the
e planter had been seized, and was borne
il down in the brute's grip; while hi
n companion, blind with blood and fury
t had thrown himself oil the tigress anC
II dealt blow after blow with his broaC
IS COorg knife wherever it would pierce
e We joined him, but it was long doubt
II ful who had the mastery. The brut'
: turned now upon one, now upon th
other and in the meantime was bein!
:, stabbed and lacerated in all directions
Il We almost wallowed in blood. How
y long it lasted | know not but ther
II came a pause, and the struggle wa
), over.
d Fairfield lay motionless, with tori
e arms, and his light hair and face thickl
II coated with gore Il huge paw fixed il
d his shoulder, his hands mangled, an,
e one leg under the carcass. Across tn
L. body lay the shikaree, still clutchin!
u the handle of his knife, which WA
II buried to the hilt in flesh. An axe WA
', deep in the brute's skull-the work O
q Blank, who, with the others, sat breath
II less 10y the body, looking terror-stricke
n and speechless at the hideOus heap tina
Ie lay there.
y On recovering from the shock, we ex
/ tricated Fairfield, and as gently Il
possible laid him upon bed hastil
Is prepared with every garment we cOul
l. spare. The insensible shikaree wa
'e then laid at his side, and the others sc
i out for assistance. Blank was not muc
II hurt, neither was | but, as far as W
1t could judge, Fairfield and his cOmpaniO
ID if not dead, seemed to have little lif
le left 1t was past midnight before tn
Dl doctor reached the place, and by tina
y time the patients were sensible but un
u able to move. On examining tn
oI wounds he expressed himself satistie
y that, although both cases were serious
ST hopes might be entertained of recovery
10 He was right; but it was full tw
or months before either Fairfield OF tn
he shikaree could get about to their wor
again.
~ AMUSING THE CHILDREN.-A CORE
~ spondent of the American Agriculture
~ says: at is real household 'cOnvt
20 20 nience' to have something at hand tn;