The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-10-29


will kill Il with blow 81 his paw. and
drag u into some neighboring Jungle
thicker and denser than that immc-
diately around the village.
Nothing shows more the marvellous
strength possessed by the tiger than
the way IN which he carries his victim
away. ! remember the first time las
shown where = tiger had dragged q
full-grown bullock. Icould not believe
Il possible; and IL was not until after
we had killed the robber-only an or
dinary-sixed tigress- and had care
fully gone over on foot the ground
where she had dragged her prey. that
found that she had not only dragged
the dead bullock-an animal, should
think. considerably beyond her own
waight-over very rough ground and
through . dense cane-brake, but that
In some places, IS the marks showed.
she must actually have lifted the fore
quarters Of the bullock on the ground
in her mouth. and have walked several
yards with Il In that position. When
the victim has been dragged to what
the tiger considers position OF secure
ty Il will sit down and make a good
meal, and then retire Z short distance
iromits prey 70 some particularly thick
bush or tuft OF grass, and there remain
until the following night, and then re-
turn Tor another meal. In consequences
OF this well-known habit "a kill" as
II y called, Il the best of all khubber.
and In such cases. II the tiger has not
been disturbed, the sportsman is almost
sure TO find him lying somewhere close
70 the carcass. and II his arran gements
are well made Is pretty sure to get q
shot at him.
Our shikarees. stimulated by liberal
backsheesh when their news resulted
in . bag. used often to bring rs in
khubber; 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 60
out, and would make over their turn
to me. l never refused. for l was
young and enthusiastic enough to love
the fun and the excitement Of the hunt.
even when our expedition resulted in
no bsg; and did not care for the chaff
with which my sedater comrades would
greet me on my return. Sometimes.
however, the 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 OF for about six weeks, and the
animals in the jungles close around
the station seemed to have been all
killed of or driven away. for q whole
week passed and no khNbber good
enough to tempt even me did our shi-
karees bring. 1t was the seventh blank
day. and as we sat at our chofa hGxri
(early morning cup Of some invigor-
ating but harmless beverage), under
the shade Of q splendid mango-tree
which grew conveniently close to our
mcss-house veranda, my chum and /
were discussing the necessity Of taking
a weeks trip across the river which
skirted our station. and were trying to
caJole our companions into letting US
have the use Of the elephants for
50 long .. time. We had nearly sue
c.eeied In persuading them Of the use
lessness Of expecting to get any
more shooting close to Julbarri, and
two OF the least enthusiastic OF our
Nimrods had actually given in. when in
70 the compound and right up 10 our
table who should dash but Jamala, the
very best and most Trustworthy OF ali
our shikarees! Almost brcathless, be
stammered cut: 'sSahib. sahib. two
such huge tigers! Their pugs are as
big as that" and he described with the
end Of the stick he held in his hand
inquire in the dust, intended to por-
tray the size Of their footprints, which
would have done credit to 4 we'll
grown mammoth. "rhcy have killed
a bullock in the Kala Jungle, only six
miles of; and am sure they were still
there when left half an hour ago. Il
ordered the elephants to be got ready
- l passed the lines"
Here was news with vengeance:
but alas. il was my turn to stay in
environments; and with such splendid |
khutber - 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
d those remaining behind; so / and |
who was my comrade in
made over our Joe Manton |
guns and our Pnrdeys to our luckier
companions, and wished them cool |
speed with the best grace we could |
and II we BETRAYED our feel |
!ngs little BY throwing after them
the parting exhortation: mind YOU
don't miss the fiftecn-footer;" well, |
really think wo ought to be forgiven.
Castleton was q married man: and / |
must crave the ladies' pardon for
in my list Of our Julbarri
residents the really charming Mrs.
castleton and her fascinating sister. i
Miss Jervoise. As soon as the hunters
nad gone. Castlcton turned to me, and
'aid: You had better come over and
unch with us, Watson. You'll only
,e breaking your heart over visions OF
hose two fabulously footed tigers, ii
'ou lunch at mess alone"
! thanked him; an1 two o'clock
ound me receiving the commissera-
ions Of the two fair ladies. while they
Dressed upon me thc usual profuse
hospitality Of an Indian luncheon. We
lad reached the dessert stage. and
MA CastIeton was just pressing me %
astc some specially delicious iantains
which . ncighboring rajah had sent
'er the day before, when the bearer
anne 10. and. making salaam. said ~
,aStIetOn. "a man -. t.-x