Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-09-17

"Sahib Colonel, in two minutes Mad
gka's satin skin will be in red rib
bons -
The tiger was, for very truth,
prodigy, even for those days, when
larger and fercer specimens were
made prisoners than now. He was
four feet tall at the shoulder, precise
ly eight feet in length from tip to tip,
and correspondingly proportioned,
with a ferocity that was at that time
proverbial throughout India.
Round and round prowled the mon
ster with no more sound than would
have been produced by the footballs
of kitten.
Suddenly there was an exulting
roar, the large striped bulk seemed to
fly up into the air as though hurled
by springs, and he was seen to launch
out toward the white stallion as if
projected out of cannon's mouth.
But lightning like as was the at
tack, it was countered by {. move
ment as electric and as effective on
the part of the equine hero.
There was a white, whirling sort of
flash, out flew the glistening steel
shod heels striking the tiger in the
chest, while yet in mid-air, with the
force of catapult, and hurting him
back with a resounding crash against
the wooden wall of the pit till it fair
ly trembled.
The raiah frowned, while Mahala's
soft face CORRESPONDENCE frightened,
and the bronze face of Mohun slowly
relaxed into a smile as he drew her
slight figure yet more reassuringly to
his side, the entire British contin-
gent at the same time bursting into a
shout that rang and reverberated over
the shriller plaudits of the native on
lockers, much like the hoarse braying
of battle horn over the squeakings
and clamorings of the flies and kettle
drums.
"Another thousand on Nadgka ]"
cried Poindexter, excitedly futtering
two fingers at the potentate in betting
book fashion. GA whole lac of ru-
pees, if | only had them! What says
your excellency?
Djampudra Hassan composedly
nodded his assent, and the wager
was recorded.
''It was Djeridgowak's first mis-
calculation his patience overreached
ITSELF" he said, stroking his beard
once more. "Watch him nowl He
will make up for the faux pas, as the
French would say"
Apparently but slightly injured by
his repulse, though painting slightly,
the tiger had resumed the silent,
watchful circlings of the arena, SEEM
ingly with no more want of confidence
in himself than if they had not been
in the least interrupted.
But the stallion was now seen to
have changed his tactics so far that,
while resuming his pivotal gyrations,
his head, in lieu of his hindquarters,
were now presented to the front.
Another breathless interval of sus-
pense, followed by fresh hurtling
spring on the part of the tiger.
But it was countered even more
cunningly and effectively than before.
Crouching and gliding under the fly
ing black and yellow bulk, much as a
gazelle might crouchingly evade a
lammergeyer's hurtling swoop, out
flew the glistening heels again at just
the right instant, this time bringing
up with a tremendous impact on the
monsters flank, so that when Djerid-
gowka's revolutions were resumed,
as they were almost instantly, it was
with sullen, half gasping air, and
perceptible limp that betokened more
than trifing injury to his hips.
ssAnother thousand to five hundred
on the white stallion !" vociferateC
Poindexter yet again over the many
voiced applause. ''Is it go, youl
excellency? Or I'll give you three tc
one !"
The rajah's Oriental composure hat
deepened into something more thar
Oriental guinness and his crue
gaze roamed from the tiger to th'
little bogum radiant-with
smouldering fierceness of dissatisfac
ton; but he, nevertheless, inclined
his head majestically, and the thirc
additional bet was registered.
But again and again was the tiger
spring repeated, and with no bette
success, save that on one occasion
one of his mighty forepaws manages
to fetch the brave steed long rak
ing stroke along the loins, ripping
his skin into strips and staining hi
, silxery coat with blood.
, 1t was now foregone conclusio
that Nadgka would be the victor
The Englishmen roared themselve
hoarse; even the natives yelled the
unrestrained delight, in spite of the
3 royal masters frowning displeasure
t while little Mahala fairly clapped he
hands and bounded in her seat at th
= side of her stern visaged protector.
But Djeridgowka, though plainl
e dispirited, had as yet suffered no POI
itively disabling injury, and it wf
: quickly evident that he intended
. make one more supreme effort to r.
: trieve the day.
Without the slightest warning,
b suddenly changed his tactics
Spory;,or fraY, h;s ,apou1iuo circui