Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-07-10

4
wits 2"
"Sahib shall sce," replied Moham-
med, quietly. "Sahib tell Mohammed
take good care of Sahib, this morning.
He go very dangerous. Tiger much
angry if disturbed at sleep. Sahib get
eat up if no carry rocket
Nonsense. Mohammed. | replied.
"What in thunder is the use of those
things? They won't kill any one. And
here's old Sweet SiXteen'-worth more
than all tie bundle"
By ''Sweet Sixteen meant nv six
teen-shooting Henry rifle, my compan-
ion in several hunts.
''Sahib shall see," replied Moham-
med. Maybe glad TO have rocket near
by soon."
l ceased to argue with Mohammed,
and we proceeded in silence along the
path. The east all aglow with the fer
vent blush that heralds the rising san,
the dew was sparkling on every tree
and bush in the jungle, and myriads of
birds were singing their morning melo-
dies of praise to their Creator.
We walked briskly along the road
that wound through the jungle to the
lonely tank, and just as we arrived
there, up leaped the broad red sun,
pouring blaze of gold on the surface of
the water.
The tank was an Immense artificial
reservoir, built in times past by some
pious prince to preserve the blessing of
abundant water in that dry climate.
As we came near it was all alive with
water-fowls.
Ducks aud wild geese innumerable,
of various bright colors, swan to and
fro, gabbling loudly. Peacoeks screamed
disco-dantly from the encircling Jungle,
and monkeys and parrots kept up their
harsh chorus.
At the further end of the tank,
nearly a quarter of a mile long, stood a
huge elephant, drinking peacefully,
while several herds OF deer and ante
lope stood near and shared the enjoy
ment. | plainly saw that it was useless
to approach by the front, and therefore,
motioning to Mohammcd to follow me,
plunged into the Jungle, intending TO
make a circuit and intercept the ele-
phant.
But had miscalculated the difficult
ties of the path. Ere long 1 had Lost
the direction of the tank, hidden so
from view in the thick jungle, and was
wandering | knew not where, among
copses of low bushes interspersed with
taller reesand little open glades, where
the coarse yellow surpui grass lay mat
ted all over the ground.
toiled on for some time, thinking |
was parallel with the the tank, but
| could see no opening anywhere, and
at last turned around TO inquire the
way of my follower. But Mohammed
had disappeared. Whether he was
scared at my temerity in venturing
alone into tiger-haunted jungle, or
had failed to keep up with me on ac-
count of his heavier load | could not
tell. All knew was that | was alone,
anu IO>l Ill lHc iuHele.
l began to feel little nervous, but |
poO-hoohed the thought of danger, and
would remember the direction to the
tank, thought, and pushed toward it.
l tried to calculate the distance of the
snn by this time from the east, and
started in the direction | thought the
tank ought to be. | stole cautiously
and quietly on, not daring 10 make
much noise on account of the supposed
vicinity of tigers, and began to flatter
myself | should reach the tank safely,
when | suddenly halted spellbound.
Right before me, within ten feet, lay
huge royal tiger, as large as an OK,
fast asleep.
The old rascal had been out all night, |
and was enjoying his morning nap,
curled up like an old tabby cat. He
had not heard my footsteps, and
halted in dead silence. He lay right in
nv path, and could not pass him with
out waking him. was afraid TO lose
nv direction, for fear l might wander
ad infRitiua in the devious tangled
jungle. Still could not pass OF with
out disturbing the tiger. | would have
tried bullet, but, from the position in
which he lay, | should have probably
missed his brain or heart. i stepped
softly back to retreat. keeping my gaze
fixed on the tiger, when, as luck would
have it, my very first step brought me
on dry stick, which snapped in two
with a loud noise.
In an instant the tiger awoke.
Only partially, however. He was
dazed with the light in his eyes, and
danced around with an inquiring stare.
No time was to be lost.
was not twelve feet from the huge
brute, and well within his spring. i
sent .'Sweet Sixteen" TO my shoulder.
and aimed right between the fierce,
green eyes, as the tiger half rolled up
on his side with his head raised. As !
pulled the trigger, the flash and smoke
obscured everything from my vision
for a moment, but | heard no sound;
and as the smoke cleared away, | be-
held the striped monarch of the jungle
lying dead before me.
But had scarcely time to note this,
when, horrors on horrors, up started
five tigers within a radius of twenty
or thirty feet, and stood staring at me
with apparent establishment: They
could not have been more astOnished
than | was 70 see them.
The striped coat of the tiger, bril-
liant as it appears, is yet so well suited
to the color of the jungle, as TO be we'll
nigh invisible. Hence my ignorance of
the proximity of the beasts.
My hair began to rise right up on my
head at the idea of my danger, as
surveyed these five monsters, any one
of them being able to gobble me up at
1 n D,,- I IA a1 a.r