The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-09-29

dead, misguided millions, came the
melancholy cry of the devotee, in his
solitary and painful vigil; and not long
after we heard the gruff bark, or grunt,
of q prowling tiger from across the
saYkee. 7 =
With that / softly drew out my
''calf' and began crying and sobbing
like child in distress.
Old Geeter started and uttered o. Low
exclamation, then as quickly divining
my motive, he sat down again in his
former listening posture. 5000
Several times I initiated the cry of
Hindoo children, ''Maumay. maumay,
maumay," then sobbed on as some little
one lost in the jungle might do.
Presently my old confrere whispered.
"Beesh" (Hush) s.Beesh! Tarku zo!p'
(Hush! The beast hears.)
had heard nothing and continued to
hear not sound; but the old native
was grasping one of his spears, crouch.
ing on his knees, every muscle braced.
Five or ten minutes passed. M
fancied the old mans ears were
hardly so sharp as he thought them.
But on sudden a low, eager shuttle, as
|
CORY morSel, broke the stiffness. Look
ing intently through the darkness in
that direction, l espied two flashing
orbs in the high grass!
Slowly. stealthily and with scarcely
rustic of the dry stalks. those green
tinted, fiery eyes were coming nearer.
The carcass of the goat was hung up
against the cage bars, inside it.
When within twelve or fifteen yards,
the creature seemed to fy at one bound
from out the grass against the side of
the cage, uttering a low intense growl!
The cage rocked violently; / was
thrown to one side, but old Geeter. bet
ter prepared for the shock than /, kept
his crouching position, and as the tiger
clung, growing and tearing at the car
cass, he thrust out his spear, giving it
a slight wound. a-
Astonished at the sharp prick the
great brute bounded off to one side;
then with savage roar sprang against
the cage again, its eyes flashing. growl-
ing horribly, the picture of venomous
wrath. The air was sitting with its
musky breath. 1t wrenched and tore
at the cage with its gripping claws. The
bamboo bars sprung and cracked fright
fully.
But this was the chance old Geeter
had waited for. Before I could take
aim, or fire, he lunged with all his force,l
driving that long acute lance point out
betwixt the bars deep into the tigers
exposed breast. .is
With a loud, agonized cry, strangely
in contrast with its deep, bass growl and
roar, the beast leaped backwards to the
ground. 1t was the animals mortal
cry, and / never saw a more fearful
death-strugsle. aa 4
Time and again it bounded high up
into the air, tumbling heavily down,
only to leap upward again. Its fright
fully hideous cries might have been
heard league off.
II must have been some minutes ere
death relieved the animal diving pains;
nor did we venture forth till it lay limp
and breathless. Daylight showed it to
be very sleek yellow and black mot
tied tiger of the largest size. It had
fattened on human fesh;9 not less than
thirteen persons, including children,
had been its victims during the month
it had beset the village f
/ remained to see the people of the
hamlet come out at sunrise to exalt
over the g karachu. They performed
a kind of thanksgiving dance. Old
Geeter remained with them to collect
his pay, presume.
Two days later saw him pass Jooa
in his cage on a freighttrain; he looked
as grim as ever.-1outh's Companion.