St. Landry democrat., 1888-11-03

| uously, when this question was inter
preted to him.
81 could" said the other, emphati
Col y, land will, if the badshal
(hing) permits it..
The King smiled again, and said
simply: "Duore DIM (to-morrow)
whereupon the soldier saluted AM
turned away.
Surely that mad fellow doesn't real
Iy mean to get himself eaten up for tn,
sake OF one hasty word of mine9n criet
the French Captain, with a rather
| troubled look at his friend.
you'll see tomorrow whether he's
Joking or not" answered the English
man. 81 can tell you that it's not the
way OF Goorllha to say a thing like
that without meaning it,
"a Goorkhar' echoed De Vautran, II
amazement "Is that little fellow one
OF the terrible fighters that I've heard
SO much about2 Impossible.'
''Walt till tomorrow, and you'll see, y
was the Colonel's only answer.
Next morning, accordingly, a mes
senger from the King came to invite
the two officers into the inner court
yard, large quadrangle in the very
center of the palace, the windows of
which looked down upon it from all four
sides.
A large space in the center had been
strewn with sand and fenced in with a
high bamboo stockade.
Around this space, above which the
Hing and his guests sat in safety on a
curtained balcony, stood the guards,
with leveled weapons, and at the far
end OF the court, between the bars of
several strong cages, might be seen the
restless limbs and the fiery eyes OF a
number of wild beasts, for the King
was even then famous for that within of
collecting tigers, serpents and what not,
which he still keeps up in his present
retirement at Calcutta.
Suddenly the gate of the stockade
was thrown back, and into the arena
stepped, with the elastic stride of a
mountainer, the small, wiry figure
of the Goorkha soldier, clad only in
q white turban and pair of cotton
drawers.
His brown skin glistened with oil, and
his right hand grasped the huge knife
which was to be his only weapon in the
impending struggle,
He salaamed to the group on the ball
cony, shooting quick, scornful glance
at De Vautran, which made the French
man feel humbled in spite of himself.
Then, stepping forward into the center
OF the open space, he stood ready for
the combat.
AT sign from the King, the door of
the nearest cage was jerked open with
a cord, and forth sprang, with long,
rejoicing roar, a royal Bengal tiger of
the largest size. For a moment he
stood motionless, as if bewildered BY
the dazzling sunshine and the encir-
cling crowd, and then his restless eye
lighted upon the solitary figure of the
Goorkha, standing immovable in the
midst.
Instantly the beasts whole bearing
as if by magic. He drew him.
self together, and, crouching like cat,
began to creep stealthily toward his
enemy, the huge paws making not the
slightest sound as they touched the
earth.
Meanwhile the Goorkha moved no
more than statue, though the watch
I'll glance of his keen eye showed he
vas on his guard.
Suddenly there came a roar, a whifl
# flying sand, cry from the specta-
ors, and then all was hidden in rolling
lust. But quick as the tiger was, his
dversary was quicker.
Just as the monster made his terrible |
prlng, the Goorkha threw himself on |
ne ground and let the huge body pass
yer him; then, rising on his elbow, he |
lade one lightning-like stroke with his
eavy knife. which severed the sinews
t the tigers right hind leg, and COM
'letely crippled the limb.
''Well done!' chuckled the King.
The tiger, furious with pain, turned
pen-mouthed upon its assailant; but
ne veteran hunter was not to be taken
nawares. A rapid bound avoided the
ash, and then down came the terrible
nife once more, cleaving through hide
nd skull to the very brain, and laying
le mighty beast dead on the spot.
hen, wiping his blade on the tigers
If, and bowling to the King, the con-
ueror lounged carelessly away.
.'Wel, what do you say nos0?' whis-
cred the Colonel to his friend.
But De Vautran made no answer
,0TiG Her, in Golden D0uS.