Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-10-28

~ - calNu, ~ the best OF all tiu0Dfr.
and IN such cases, il the tiger has NOT
boon disturbed, the sportsman Is almost
sure TO find him lying somewhere close
70 tho carcass, and ii bis arrangements
are well made IS pretty sure 70 get y
shot at him.
Our shikarecs, stimulated by liberal
backshccsh when their news resulted
ina bug, used often 10 bring us in
hhubber; but sometimes the news was
not very good; and when this was the
case, the less ardent sportsmen of our
number would frequently refuse to 20
out and would make over their turn
to me- | never refused, for | was
| young and enthusiastic enough to love
the fun and the excitement Of the hunt,
even when our expedition resulted in
no bagi and did not care for the chalI
with which my sedater comrades would
greet me on my return. Sometimes.
however, tho laugh was on my side:
but was wise enough. with view to
future contingencies, not to indulge in
Il too much.
We had been having very fair sport
on and off for about six weeks, and the
animals in the iungles close around
the station seemed to have been all
killed off or driven away, for a whole
week passed and no khubbcr good
enough to tempt even mo did our shi-
karees bring. IL was the seventh blank
day, and as we sat at our chOtd hdsri
(early morning cup of some invigor-
ating but harmless beverage), under
the shade of splendid mango-trce
which grew conveniently close to our
mess-house veranda, my chum and /
were discussing the necessity of taking
a weeks trip across the river which
sklrted our station, and were trying TO
caJole our companions into letting us
have the use of the elephants for
so long time. We had nearly sue
eeeded in persuading them of the use
lessncss OF expecting TO get any
more shooting close to Julbarri, and
two of tho least enthusiastic of our
Nimrods had actually given in. when in
TO the compound and right up to our
table who should dash but Jamala, the
very best and most Trustworthy of all
our shikareesl Almost breathiess he
stammercd out: "Sahib, sahib, two
such huge tigersl Their pugs are as
big as that;" and he described with the
end Of the stick he held in his hand
figure in the dust, intended TO por-
tray the size of their footprints. which
would have done credit to we'll
grown mammoth, "They have killed
bullock in the Kala Jungle, only six
miles of; and am sure they were still
there when / left half an hour ago. |
ordered the elephants TO be got ready
rs | passed the lines"
Hero was news with vengeance;
but alas, il was my turn to stay in
cautonments; and with such splendid
thubber as this | could not. of course.
even hint the suggestion OF an ex-
change. IL was the custom of those
going out TO borrow all the firearms
OF those remaining behind; so | and
Castleton, who was my comrade in
misfortune, male over our Joe Man. n
guns and our Purdeys TO our luckier
companions, and wished them GOOD
speed with the best grace we could
muster; and il we BETRAYED our feel
ings a little by throwing after them
the parting eNhortatiOn: "Mind YOU
don miss the fifteen-footer; well. |
really think we ought to be forgiven.
Castleton was n married man; and |
must crave the ladies' pardon for
emitting in my list OF our .Julbarri
residents the really charming Mrs
Castleton and her fascinating sister
Miss Jervoise. As soon as the hunters
had gone, Castleton turned to me, and
SAID: You had better come over and
luneh with ms, Watson. You'll only
be breaking your heart over visions OF
those two fabulously footed tigers, If
you lunch at mess alone"
| thanked him; and two o'clock
found me receiving the commissera-
uons OF tho two fair ladies, while they
pressed upon me the usual profuse
hospitality OF an Indian luncheon. We
had reached the dessert stage. and
Mrs. Castleton was just pressing me to
taste some specially delicious ulantains
which neighboring rajah had sent
her the day before, when the bearer
came in. and, making a salaam. said to
Castleton: "a man has Just come
from that little hamlet of (iorce; he
wants the sahib log to go out and shoot
a leopard which mas just killed one of
ms Lids, and Is now lying eating il i'm
a small patch Of jungle. Goree Is only
a mile and a half from here"
We stared blankly at each other.
"What can we dO?' said Castleton.
"Do? Why. go and shoot IL. of
course!' exclaimed the enthusiastic c
Miss Jeryoise.
"But, Kate dear" broke in Mrs
Castleton with wifely solicitude, 1.-THE
elephants are all away, and how can
they shoot it?'
"Oh, | am not thinking about the
elephants, " replied Ca,tleton: "but
Watson and | have lent all oar rifles
and guns, and we haven't SINGLE
thing Of any kind left"
"There are the sepoys' rifles" | sue-
gested. Eve could take one of them
apiece; and. you know, we can't let
the leopard get of without having a
try for him. Can weP'
''1es, there are the sepoys' rifles. |
certainly" replied Castleton rather !
doubtfully; "but"--
''And have got couple Of spears
interrupted. "Oh, do let us 90 at |
once. before he Is disturbed"
"Well-all right; wo'll try it." said |
CastletOn, hesitatingly.
lost no time in running home and
changing into a shooting costume. |
1astleton sent his orderly off to the |
ines Tor our weapons; ana by the !
lime l had returned with the spears.
he orderly reappeared with a couple |
of rifles and packet of cartridges. so |
a very short time saw ms mounted on |
our horses and following our guide out
10 the little village OF Goree.
81 am not very sure about the wis
dom Of this business" said Castleton.
"Oh, It will be all right" | replied. |
we must be careful not 10 IRE until
we are pretty sure TO kill--that's all"
Him, yes, suppose so, assented
my comrade somewhat doub,fully.
As matter Of fact. II was not an
'yerwlsc business. Our regiment was
Irmed in those days with the short two