Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-08-30

SoiA "hu SiNCi, uOWu uOuntdlIl-
side, and twining in and out among the
masses of trees and rocks there a glimpse
of fairyland through jungle vista. a
post, or 'tank," as they are called, surround.
ed by dense foliage. festooned by parasitical
climbing plants, glowing with flowers of ev-
cry imaginable hue humming-b birds, like
fiery gems, flashed hither and thither, dart
ing in and out among the trees. On the
'tank' floated waterfowl of every kind, and
the banks were alive with gorgeous birds,
their plumagc rivalling the flowers in brill
fancy and variety of color. But now the
shadows were deepening, the crimson on the
mountaln-tops had disappeared, and the cold
snow began to look gray and ghostly. A
flying fox went rustling past me, and hast
lily prepared 10 mount for there is scarcely
any twilight in India, and knew it would
soon be dark.
As rose, my eyes encountered something
which made me start and nearly drop my
bicycle.
There, not forty yards off, was tiger.
knew the animal we'll enough but how diff
ferent he looked from the lean, haf-starvetl
little beast had seen at home He had
just come into the open space from dense
Junge-break. and sat there, washing his face
and purring in a contented sort of way, like
a huge cat.
Was frightened Not an atom had
my bicycle and start of forty wards, so if |
could not beat him il was pity.
He had not seen me vet, and stood for
another minute admiring the handsome
creature and then quietly mounted (the tiger
was directly on my right while the road
stretched straight away in front of me. J
The noise | made reused him. he looked up,
and then, after deliberately stretching him
self, came leaping with long, graceful bounds
over the rank grass and rocks which sepa-
rated him from the road. He did not seem
bit angry, but evidently wished to get
nearer view Of such an extraordinary OBJ
jec,.
Forty yards, however, thought was quite
near enough for safety. The tiger was in
the road behind me now; 50 pulled my
self together and began TO quicken m, pace.
Would he stop, disguised, after the fir ST,
hundred yards, and give up the chase, or
would he stuck to IL? ! quite hoped he
would follow me, and already pictured in my
mind the graphic description would write
home Of my race with the tiger
Little did think what terrible race il
was going to be. | looked behind me. By
Jo,e he was sticking to it." could not
Judge the distance, but at any rate was no
further from him than when We started
~" for spurt ! rode the next half-mle
as hard as | could, but on looking round
found had not gained yard
lhe tiger was on my track, moving with
a long. swinging trot, and going quite as
quickly as ! was
For the tirst time began to feel ANXIOUS
and thought uncasily Of the long ten miles
which separated me from safety
However, 1t was no good thinking, now ::
II was my muscle and iron ,teed against the
brute. could only do my best and trust in
Providence
Now, there was no doubt about the tigers
intention his blood was up, aud on he came
occasionally giving vent 10 roar which
made the ground trembc Another mile
had been ,rayersed and the tiger was slow
iy but surely closing up.
dashed my pouch to the ground, hoping
i would stop him FIR few seconds but hc
Kept steadily on, and felt il was then grim
earnest.
calculated We must be about seven miles
from camp now. and before could ride an
other four my purauer, knew, must reach
me. On, the agony Of those minutes, which
seemed y me like long hours
Another mile passed, then another
could hear him behind me now-pad. Dad.
pad, quicker and quicker louder aud louder.
turned in my saddle for 4 moment. and SAW
that there we're not 20 Yards separating us
How enormous the brute looked, and how
terrible His huge tongue hung out. and
the only sound h- made was i continual
hoarse growl of rage. while his eyes seemed
10 literally flash fire.
1t was like some awful nightmare, and
with shuddtr | bent down over the handle,
and flew on
As now 81 quietly in my chair writing
find Il hard to anllyze the crowd of men,
ories that went crushing through nv brain
during that fearful ride | saw long forgot
ten events in which | had taken part rise up
distinctly before me ; and while every mus
Gle was racked with my terrible exer,ion, my
mind was clear and my life seemed 10 pass
before me like one long panorama.
On, on, on; the slightest Sip, | knew,
would be fatal; sudden jolt, screw Civ
ing, and should be hurled to instant death.
Human strength would not stand much
more; the prolonged strain had told upon
me. and felt it would soon be all over.
My breath came in thick sobs, a mist gath
cred before my eyes-l was stopping my
legs refused to move, and thousand feuds
seemed TO be fitting about me, holding me
back, back A weight like lead WAS Oh nv
chest; | vas choking, | was DYING. Then
L few moments, which seemed a lifetime,
and then-crash with roar like thunder
the tiger was on me, and was crushed to
the ground.
Then heard shots fired, Babel OF mems
voices, and all was blank