The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-09-24

some professional tiger-killer, like old
Geeter comes and slaughters it. twill
thus be seen how tiger-killing can come
to be kind of trade in India.
1t was dusk when 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 a
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 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 came upon the cage
after a few minutes. 1t was set on the
ground in the high raychs grass, a few
PAGES from the jungles and thorn thick
cts which skirted a sarkee (creck).
Feeling a little uncertain as to how
old Geeter might receive me, or how he
might act if l came upon him by sur
prise. called out. .sGod be with your
several times in Hindustani. az
] did not wish him to mistake me for
tiger, by any means. Perhaps l called
more loudly than l need have done.
/" 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 spider in
his den. The cage was his place of
business, as one might say.
After some parley / was admitted
through little trap-door in the top,
which was securely buttoned down
again; but my reception was a 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 could hear him breathe.
Once we heard short, querulous roar
which / supposed to be that of tiger
at a distance, but no tiger came near.
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 they
had seen and heard the karachu (rav-
ager) about the hamlet during the hours
of darkness. leA fifsf'
l went back down to Jooa on the
early morning "mail'' from Bombay;
for my duties did not admit of my be-
ing absent day; but I arranged with
old Geeter to join him again that night.
/ NAV as we'll confess that / had to win
his consent by present of few ru-
PEGS. $50
As Thought overhis method of tiger
killing it occurred to me that could
improve upon it. During my expert
ence as currei'' in Brazil, 1 had
often on my weekly journeys made use
of a !" bird-call' 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 a
few trials, that this was tiger with a
taste for human flesh, began to coun-
terfeit the crying Of a child, which /
found nc very difficult matter when
once had got the right key for it.
said nothing to old Geeter of my
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.
Once cloud of green, sparkling fire.
flies came, and drifting in betwixt the
stout bars of the cage, fairly lighted
IL up WITH Gnelr SllHtlnS nTcS. Ldter,
dolefully bowling pack of jackals swept
by US, eight or ten rushing up to sniff
the goats blood.
Midnight drew on, and for long
time all was utterly silent, save that an
ssayshee' came near and s'blew'' shrilly
several times, impatiently stamping its
sharp hoofs on the dry turf. t -
Then came a sound, new, strange and
terribly realistic in this old land of an
unprogressive race. With a ponderous
roar and widespread jar and tremor OF
the staid old soil, a lurid red flashing OF
hot furnace doors and the belching out
of fire-lit steam and smoke. the long,
heavily loaded Freight No. IT. 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, conjured
up by the silence and darkness. seemed
shivered by it. 1t was an hour ere Old
H. s<-I 1cI .<,l