The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1888-06-09

the tiger generally lay. Tho old man
told us however, that he was
momentarily expecting a visit from
his grandson. who was to bring him
some rice, and that the grandson could
fetch some of the villagers to act as
guides Accordingly We decided to
remain IN the village all night, and to
start upon the tiger s trail in the morn.
ing.
Soon after we had encamped the old
mans grandson appeared. We sent
a message by him to the villagers that
We We're there to STAY the tiger, and
asked them to send their best hunters,
with a bullock to be used for bait.
We had our own tent with US. and
this we set up on the outskirts of the
village. Knowing that there was
a man-eater in the neighborhood. It
behooved us to keep the closest watch
during the night In order to do this
more effectually. W. built a big fire
and divided the night iRto watches.
One of the sowars had first watch.
and we gave him strict orders that
he was not to sleep eve so much as a
wink, for his life depended upon his
vigilance. A tiger will never hesitate
to attack a sleeping man, and he
crawis up so quietly that the victim
has no warning of the crafty animals
attack until the catlike spring is made
upon the prey. We ourselves lay
down inside the tent, previously, how
ever, covering the sights of our rifles
with pieces of white cotton, so that
we might have something to guide us
if we should have to aim them sud-
| denly in the dark. 1t seemed to me
that my eyes had hardly been closed
for five minutes. when | was startled
| by the most unearthly shrek ! ever
heard. 1t was but one terrifying cry,
and then all was silent. B ut toe
well knew what itmeant The sowa'
on watch had fallen asleep, and the
tiger had pounced upon him and car
ried him off to the jungle. We fired
our rifles in the direction the brute
had taken, not with any hope of hit
ting, but trusting that the sound OF
firearms would make the beast drop
his victim. We followed him o short
distance, and then, seeing how useless
it was to continue in the darkness, we
returned to camp. Early next morn.
ing we found traces of the poor SoWar
close to the camp. At II place wo
found his belt, and in another his tur-
ban. We could not find the body. and
the tiger had evidently dragged
it into the recesses of the jun
gle. Soon after. some of the
villagers arrived, bringing a white
calf for a bait. Guided by them, we
made our way to a place about q mile
away. close by a stream, whore they
said that they had seen the tigers
tracks, showing that he came there to
drink. He was not to be expected un.
til evening; so. after accommodating
the ground and selecting in a suitable
tree a place to build q m~eechaunl. we
returned to the village. In the even-
| ing we returned to the stream, and the
first thing we did was to build the
meechaum in the tree. We did not in
tend to shoot the tiger from the tree.
but made it only rs q place in which to
pass the night until we could STALK"
the tiger to the spot where the bait
should be placed. Accordingly We
tethered the white calf in
the middle of q clear space,
some two or three hundred
yards away, and when all prepara-
tons We're complete we returned to the
m~eechaun. You may be sure moi one
| of us slept wink that night; we were
far too anxious, and when the very
~faintest streak of dawn appeared we
| slid down the tree. and slowly and
carefully crept to where the calf was
tethcred. When We came near, we at
first could see nothing of the calf. and
thoughtthat the tiger had carried him
off bodily; but our eyes were becoming
better accustomed to the gloom. and
as it was rapidly growing lighter, we
soon discerncd something white
lying on the ground, and every
now and then moving a lit.
tie; and-ves! sure enough, there
was something else beside it! In The
East daylight comes almost as quickly
rs does the evening darkness, and it
was not long before we could
make out the tiger and the clash
ing of his tail" He was lying full
length on the calf's body. and
evidently, since the calf still moved,
had not yet killed it. On the other
side of the open ground there was a
dead tree, and l thought: Master III.
ger, if can get behind that, you are
4 dead tiger, and will 90 TO the happy
hunting-grounds of T~igerdom.' ar
ranged with my friend that he should
say where he was, TO shoot the tiger
if he turned in that direction. while |
should steal over to the dead tree and
try to get a shot from there. | ar.
rived at the tree all right, and, slowly
taking careful aim at the tiger s hat
l might hit him right behind the