The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-09-10

some PROFESSIONAL LlSoI-hhfDi; IN -,
Geeter comes and slanghtersit. 1t Will
thus be seen how tiger-killing can come
to be a kind of trade in India.
1t was dusk when l got off at Yuloo-
dian. The agent said that old Geeter
had arrived at three o'clock with his
cage, and that party of natives with
bullock team had driven it off to the
village, half mile away. Thither l
proceeded ON foot and alone. None OF
the natives were astir. The huts were
all closed and dark The people had
shut themselves up at twilight for fear
of the tiger. For the savage beast, now
for several weeks, had been accustomed
to enter the hamlet at night, prowling
around as it pleased. Twice it had
seized persons within their very doors.
But by dint of knocking and shout
ing learned where the old tiger-slayer
had located his cage; had only to fol-
low the street, or rather path, leading
through the hamlet and out at a gate
into the open country beyond. No one
would venture forth at this hour to
guide me; but the distance was not
more than three hundred meters beyond
| the gate in the stake-fence inclosing
the hamlet; and l came upon the cage
after few minutes. 1t was set on the
ground in the high rayche grass, a few
PAGES from the jungles and thorn thick
cts which skirted a Sdrkee (creek).
Feeling little uncertain as to how
old Geeter might receive me, or how he
might act if came upon him by sur
prise. l called out, God be with your
several times in Hindustani.
/ did not wish him to mistake me for
| tiger, by any means. Perhaps | called
more loudly than L need have done.
g God be with your responded the old
man in low tone; but it was with an
infection and emphasis not in the least
in keeping with those words.
ventured to draw higher. however
Old Geeter was in his cage. sitting ST.
lent and on the lookout, like a spider in
his den. The cage was his place of
business, as one might say.
After some parley 1 was admitted
through little trap-door in the top,
which was securely buttoned down
again; but my reception was most I'M
gracious one. He grumbled ominously
in the native tongue of my disturbing
the night and breaking his spells.
Besides our two selves in the cage
there was the carcass of goat to at
tract the tiger.
Hour after hour of the damp, warm,
dark night we sat crouched motionless
there. Old Geeter neither spoke nor
moved; but l could hear him breathe.
Once we heard a short, querulous roar
which supposed to be that of tiger
al q hYIt
Day broke at last, and when it had
grown fairly light, we got out and went
to the village, where the people had
now begun cautiously to look forth from
their doors. Several asserted that thew
had seen and heard the karachu Gav-
ager) about the hamlet during the hours
of darkness.
went back down to Jooa on the
early morning :" mali from Bombay;
for my duties did not admit of nv be-
ing absent a day; but [ arranged with
old Geeter to join him again that night.
| may as well confess that had to win
his consent by q present of few ru-
pees.
AS Thought overhi method of tiger
killing it occurred to me that / could
improve upon it. During my expert
ence as currei' in Brazil, | had
often on my weekly journeys made use
of a g bird-calr' for wayside hunting,
and had that Identical old whistle still
in my chest.
My first plan was to initiate the bleat-
ing of kid with it, thinking thus to
attract the tiger. but rejecting. after
few trials, that this was tiger with
taste for human flesh. began to coun-
terfeit the crying of child, which
found nc very difficult matter when
once l had got the right key for it.
Isaid nothing to old Geeter of nv
trick when reached Yuloodian that
evening, but joined him as before.
The night was very still. Several
times the weird cry of devotee in the
distant village of Razotpore came faint
ly to our ears, over MANY miles. The
stars shone down with misty luster.
1t was very damp, yet warm.
Oncea cloud of green, sparkling fire.
flies came, and drifting in betwixt the
stout bars of the cage, fairly lighted
it up with their glinting fires. Later,
dolefully bowling pack of jackals swept
by us, eight or ten rushing up to sniff
the goats blood.
Midnight drew on, and for a long
time all was utterly silent, save that an
''ayshee" came near and ''blew'' shrilly
several times, impatiently stamping it's
sharp hoofs on the dry turf.
Then came a sound, new, strange and
terribly realistic in this old land of an
unprogressive race. With ponderous.
roar and widespread jar and tremor of
the staid old soil, lurid red flashing of
hot furnace doors and the belchino out
OF tire-lit steam and smoke, the long,
heavily loaded Freight No. III from
Madras went past. For miles and miles
its thunderous forceful rush and the
echoes of its peremptory whistle and
loud bell were borne back to us. Ev-
erything of nocturnal mystery and old
time legend and superstition, coniured
up by the silence and darkness, seemed
shivered by it. 1t was an hour ere Old
India and night had again regained pos
session of themselves round Yuloodian.
Then. once more, like wall from
dead, misguided millions, came the
melancholy cry of the devotee, in his
| solitary and paiuful vioil. and ,oo+ Low