The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-05-07

and were soon busily employed in
making the most of the meal OF the
day and arranging about the NOR
rows sport.
When "To Tum," as we irreverently
called our venerable butler, brought
me my tea and biscuits at 6 the next
morning l had much to ask him, for
E. and H. had gone off without wax
ing me, probably thinking that the
sight of them with two rifles in their
hands and a tiger in the bush would
be too exciting and tantalizing for me.
l found that the Massa Sahibs had
departed after a very hasty breakfast
and had taken St. John with them,
carrying a third gun in Ease of acct
dent. A railway coolie reported dis.
tant shots heard about an hour after
the Sahibs had left the bungalow; but
nothing had since been seen or heard
OF men or m%an-eater.
"4ou can open that blind, ToTum,"
said |, pointing to one of the windows
looking toward the north, for l Thought
| should probably see the conquerins
heroes returning that way, covered
with glory and thorn scratches. The
butler had departed and left me to my
~meditations, and good intentions OF
performing my toilet and going to see
what vas doing on the line. Icontin-
ued to lie, looking dreamily out of
the window, the jalousie of which To
Ium had thrown back. 1t was not
much OF q view consisting only of a
corner of the compound wall and the
Jungle beyond; but a soft, pinky haze
beautitied everything; andfanned by a
most delicious cool breeze, l closedm my
eyes again and dozed Tor a few min
utes, utterly and blissfully ignorant
that sudden death had Just cleared
that compound wall, and was making
stealthily and warily, straight for my
open window. / heard-in dream as
it were, SO did not heed-a curious
scratching noise, followed by soft,
limping footsteps across the veranda;
then heavy breathing, almost gasping,
which seemed so unpleasantly near,
that | opened my sleepy, dreamy eyes
Highness the Bengal tiger throw him
self in an utterly done-for condition
by the side OF my bed!
Here was a situation! MY very
marrow seemed to freeze in by bones,
and every hair on my head was alive
with electrified fright. l lay as still
as q corpse, and in my heart thanked
a conslderate Providence which had
made the beast turn its back to me,
instead OF its villainous face. l was
too paralyzed to think Of what Icould
do to get out of the room, which per-
haps, was fortunate. The animal had
evidently run far and fast, as it's pant-
ing sides and foam-faked jaws plainly
showed; SO there was just a feeble
chance of its going to sleep,
and then would be the time
to cautiously escape. Its great muir
derous-looklng paws werestained with
blood; and, though | could see that
II of them vas wounded, the idea
would take possession ofmy weak and
agitated mind, that it was the blood
OF one Of my companions, and not the
tigers own. Suddenly, to my horror,
the brute lifted it's head from it's paws,
pricked up its ears. and listened in
tently. | also listened as we'll as /
could; but every nerve was throbbing,
and the sound in both ears was as the
surging of stormy waves on q pebbly
beach. l, too, however, caught a dis
tant "click," very faint and indistinct,
and l could not make out whatit was.
Thetiger again compassionate to sleep
or watch; it vas impossible to see if
it's eyes were open or shut. After a
lifetime OF miserable sensations, 1
guessed, by the even rise and fall GIFTS
sides, that it must be having what
might not be more than the pro-
verbal forty winks; SO now was
my time, OF never Not
once taking my eyes off the object of
my terror, l slipped out of the bed,
which gave a gentle creak, that, to my
fevered imagination, sounded like q
death knell. He did not move. I
wished l had more on, I felt so de-
fenseless. / crept slowly to the door,
not taking n foot off the ground till
l had carefully steadied myself on
both. reached the only thing that
divided me from comparative safety,
softly turned the handle. The door
was locked! For one second l had
taken my steady gaze from the Sleep
ing brute; when l looked again, what
a change! Head thrown back, ears
fiat, eyes glaring savagely, and TANKS
trembling and quivering with the
stealthy movement Of an animal
about to spring! But not at me! l
followed the tigers glance, and caught
the glimpse Of a barrel of a rifle, Just
enc second-then a fash-a roar-a
struggle-and 1 fell senseless on the
floor.
When came to myself I was lying
wrapped in my dressing-gown on a So
ia in the sitting. room. E. S. P. was
kneeling beside me with a bottle OF
something in his hand, and H. F. vas
standing at myfeet with an expression
Of the greatest solicitude.
"Don't talk just yet old fellow"
said he; wait till your stronger, and
we'll tell you all about it. By Jove!
you had a narrow escape"
After a few minutes quiet, my curl
osity awoke in full force. .sTell me-"
said !, "did you killhim straight Off"
ooh, yes" answered E. S. P. Hes
as dead as mutton. But we had no
idea that you were there. TO Tum
told us that you had gone to the line
ages ago; and we tracked the brute
through your open window, where he
had taken refuge. H. wounded him
in the off hind leg, when we got our
first sight of him injungle; and instead
of coming at us he bolted. and led us
a precious dance. To Tum bolted
your door on the outside, thinking it
would stand q charge better in case
the tiger made one; but he Thought
that you were safe off the premises,
Well said ], shuddering at the
recollection, II really don't think /
am more cowardly than most people,
but may | eve spend another such
manvais quartdfheure. "-Chambers's
Journal.
In portions Of Central Africa, where