The Iola register., 1886-11-19

. couple of hours there were five of u
white men on the ground with . deter
mination to hunt the big cat to hi
death. A body of natives were sent of
up the hill to beat the gully, and W.
took our stations in crescent each maj
facing the hill, and none of US over 1O(
feet from the spot where the trail hat
been abandoned. 1t turned out that tn.
gully did not penetrate the hill for NOR,
than quarter of mile, and after 9
little the natives got on both sides of il
and began to beat toward US. While
some beat horns and beat drums, Others
kept up fire of stones into the gully
and we felt that the tiger must show
himself. The only fear was that his tenn
per would boil over and he would clam.
Der up the side of the gully and attack
the beaters. A frightened tiger would
have sought to Chamber out instead oi
following the gully down to the plain,
and once he started to bolt nothing
would have stopped him.
1.-The beaters had been at work hall
an hour when We heard cry announc-
ing that the man-eater was making his
way toward the plain, hustled along
somewhat by the volley of stones, but
sharpening his claws and growing de-
fiance. In taking up our positions it
SO happened that Lieutenant Earring
ton was on my right, in line with the
mouth of the gully, and not more than
twenty feet from my elbow. He had a
le-ba,reled rifle of heavy calibre,
while had repeater. In three or
four minutes after the cry of warning
the tiger appeared in the mouth of the
gully, head onto Harrington, and look
ing him straight in the face.
"'Hold on! He's my meatr shouted
the officer as he brought his gun up,
and it became point of honor with the
rest of US to hold our fire. He took cool
and careful aim, but his bullet simply
touched the skin between the tiger s
ears. He dropped like stone, but was
up in an instant, and, with a roar to
shake any mans nerves, he sprang for
ward at the Lieutenant In the tenth
of second l turned my eyes from the
beast to the officer, and what was nv
horror to see a serpent twining itself
about his leg and rearing its head on a
level with his shoulder. | forgot all
about the oncoming tiger, and for the
first time in my life my blood seemed
turned to ice. Harrington stood with
his left food ahead and his right braced,
and as the tiger touched the ground for
his last spring the rifle spoke again and
the beast rolled over with ball through
his brain. Then, while we all kept our
places like so many blocks of stone, he
dropped his rifle, seized the snake just
below the head with his right hand. and
came walking toward us. The serpent
and twisted about in its rage,
and as it uncoiled itself from the mans
leg he flung it thirty feet away. 1t was
rushing back at him when one of the
party, with shotgun at his shoulder,
blew its head of.
Good shot, remarked Harrington,
as he walked back and picked up his
rifle.
1--WE ran after him and shook his
hand, and showered unstinted praise on
him for his nerve. but he would not be
a hero. 1t was the presence of the SER
pent, which was of highly poisonous
species, which had disturbed his first
aim. He felt it under his foot. and real
zed that its bite meant death, but mad
dened tiger was before him, and he did
not give the snake a second thought.
1t was the most trying position ever
saw sportsman placed in, and l am
free to admit that it would have upset
ME. When 1 came to know the Lieuten-
ant better did not wonder so much
over the nerve displayed. 1t was a mat
ter of record that tiger entered his
one evening as he sat writing.
In getting in the beast knocked down
some articles which made a great clat-
ter and frightened him, and drew the
officers attention. Not having a
weapon handy he kicked the tiger about
the room until the beast whined for
mercy. and crept through the door held
open for him. IN. Y. Sun.