Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-08-29

give the men their mail.
Before | retired | had made all
preparations, and had given the sec
ond mate charge of such things as
fell specially to me in the work OF
the ship.
Then | told the steward to call me
at five, and sought my berth AT
first ! did not sleep much, for my
mind was full Of strange visions and
eight bells had struck for midnight
before my eyes closed in that deep
slumber which brings rest.
was reused by the call of the
steward, and found my breakfast
waiting, the captain joined me in the
meal. He gave me few more direc-
tons, and said good-by to me at the
gangway.
The distance to the landing, and
from there 10 the consuPs was not
great, and by seven all preparations
were finished, and ] was ready to
start.
Arroo, my companion i'll previous
excursions, greeted me at the door,
and to him the consul confded the
guidance of the expedition. There
we're two other Malays in the party,
people of Arroo's choosing, and the
horses provided were strong and wiry
beasts, we'll versed in mountain travel,
as they had been used to bring packs
of coffee from the higher plateaus Of
the Barisan heights to the coast.
The day was a brilliant one, and
the surroundings that environed the
way were of that gorgeous tropical
nature which never wearies the eye,
some new form Of beauty appearing
at every turn. Color predominated
in all its varied shades, birds, beasts,
insects and plants vieing with each
other in the glory of their garment
age.
For time, the way was populous
with travellers, but in an hour or
more, Arroo turned from the main
road, and struck into a less frequent
ed path, which he said was more d.
rect. In this, we were forced to be
more cautious, for there were marshy
jungles scattered along it, and these
were known to be the haunts Of tigers
and those gigantic reptiles, whose
fierce and sudden attacks are so de-
structive.
Once we heard savage growl, as
though we had aroused a foe, but the
crashing in the underground went from
us, and we knew that we were not to
be molested. We camped under a
large banyan for our noon resting,
and Arroo soon had a fire made, and
added TO our lunch some of the most
fragrant and delicious coffee that l
ever tasted.
The place where we were was SO
situated as to give us the command of
a narrow glade running in through
the dense forest growth. A brook
from the mountains dubbed through
this, and as we rested we saw 1.-THE
deer and antelope come out from the
shadows and drink at this.
Suddenly Arroo laid his hand on
my arm, and pointed down the glade.
l turned my gaze in the direction in
dicated, and saw huge rhinoceros
come numbering out from among the
trees, and after taking a lazy look
at the expanse open to him, proceed
ed to the brook and drank.
Suddenly he threw his head up
with savage snort, and turning with
"A quickness that was surprising in so
large an animal, faced the forest way
which he had come.
"A tiger" whispered Arroo there
will be fight"
The rhinoceros stood with braced
launches, head alert, his eyes fixed
on a place where the wood curved
away and left what might be called
All alcove in the thick growth. We
could not see this. for the jutting
branche, hid it, but we knew the foe
that the great beast stood prepared
IT, meet was there.
Suddenly a savage growl sounded
along the glade, and the rhinoceros
braced himself firmly, and held his
head in strangeabut seemed immov-
able way. The next instant, large
body bounded out from the shadow,
and landed just back of the ears of
the brute we had been watching.
With a sudden movement that was
astonishing, the rhinoceros shook the
new conner off, and faced it, A mo-
mcnt they crouched, watching each
other, and we saw that the attacking
animal was, as Arroo had said, IT,
ger, and superb specimen of his tribe,
with brawpy limbs, and long and
restless tail that swept swiftly from
side To- side
Only moment did they stand
thus, and then the tiger made savage
spring. This time he was met by
quick thrust from the horn of his foe