The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-03-16


appetite.
The beaters were accordingly assem-
bled, and Farquharson took the near
side, while took the other.
With q sharp glance at our gunlocks,
and general hitch to garments, we
prepared to go into action.
81 say, old fellow" pleaded my COM
panion-in arms, won't you give me
the first shot It's my first tiger-pott-
ing, you know"
Certainly, Farquharson I'll give
you the whole thing. / shall only fire
in case of accident"
Little did l amagine that my words
were so soon to be proved prophetic.
In few seconds the beaters began to
yell in chorus, and to fire bamboo
rockets, and / can imagine how dis
gusted the tiger must have been to have
his siesta so strangely and so rudely
broken in upon.
Chow those chaps YELL" laughed
Farquharson.
"Keep your eye on the jungle,
Alick," / growled, "and let them roar
as much as they like"
/ had been in "tight box" before
now, by having my attention diverted
from business at which strategists are
pleased to term the psychological mo-
ment.
Not a sign had the tiger yet given of
his presence. Not blade of the long
jungle grass stirred, save when rocket
fixed into it, setting it on fire.
The beaters were silent, signal for
the shikauee, who held up his hand,
while his head was perched on one side
like that of bird, in the attitude of
listening :sSS
"Hush"
Then came the unmistakable cough
generally called q roar of tiger.
glanced at Alick, to ascertain how the
music agreed with him. He had paled
little, but his eyes were flashing and
his lips compressed.
We have him I" he excitedly cried.
Not yet, old boy. There's many a
slip between the cup and the lip" l
retorted.
He cannot escape"
/" Not if we can help it, but if he's
lodia bagh-a game-killing tiger-we
may lose him yet"
There is, in my opinion, only one
variety of tiger, although the animal,
like all others that [ am acquainted
with, is subject to a slight variation of
appearance that may be more or less
accounted for by his peculiar habits,
which vary according to the locality and
nature of the country he ranges over.
In many parts of India over which
have hunted, the natives recognize three
kinds of tigers, which they distinguish
according to their habits and range, by
the following names First, the lodia
bagh, or game-kilhng tiger secondly,
upon domestic cattle and thirdly, the
admee khane wallah, or man-eater,
which latter, happily, are flew and far
between.
A single tiger will kill bullock or
buffalo every five days, if he gets the
chance, often eating the hindquarter
the first night, and hiding the remain
der in bush to consume at his leisure.
Should he have been fired at, or dis
turbed ON his return to his quarry, he
becomes cunning, and great deal more
destructive, killing a fresh bullock
whenever he wants food; and have
known tigers that have become so sus-
picious that they would not return to
an animal they had killed, although
they had only Tapped the blood, and
the bullock was almost untouched.
On the other hand, 1 have known a
tiger returning day after day to the car
cass of the OK he had killed, and pick
ing the bones clean, Notwithstanding he
had been twice fired at by native shi-
kaITee.
But to return to my adventure.
The shikarree suddenly gave a low
" COO" twice, which told me that he had
gotten on a warm scent. Suddenly
heard a slight noise like the cracking
of dry leaf distinctly saw a move
ment or waving in the high grass, as if
something was making its way toward
us.
Then heard loud pulring sound,
and saw something twitching backward
and forward just behind clump of low
brush and long grass, about forty yards
/ off.
"He's there r' 1 cried, in low tone,
to Alick, but without moving my eyes.
Il knowit."
"Keep cool -
Hang it all. I'm as cool as aIlet-
! tuce-leafp'
Another second and we saw the ami
NAL, its white chest shining like silver,
it's ears laid back, and it's open mouth
full of cleaning ivory teeth.
"Td like to stuff him in that posi-
tion," observed Farquharson.
"Hush!'
"Shall 1 let him have it?"
"Not yet"
The tiger advanced about ten yards
or so in that low crouch, which is the
prelude to the spring.
"NOw, Alickl" j cried.
Farquharson fired at the second !
spoke, letting the brute have one barrel.
On receiving the shot the tiger
doubled it's head and paws into its
chest, and, turning completely oven