The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-11

silence, with his eyes fastened on every
movement of the stallion, who coolly
kept revolving in tho centre, as on a
pivot, head down aud heels invariably
to tho foo.
"Djeridgowkas way-Djeridgowkas
pet trick" chuckled the rajah, rub
bing his jewelled hands together.
"Sahib Colonel, in two minutes Nadg-
kas satia skin will bo in red ribbonsp
The tiger was, for worry truth. q
prodigy, evsn for those days, when
larger and ficrccr prisoners were made
than now. He was four feet tall at the
shoulder, precisely eight feet from tip
to tip, and correspondingly proper
toned, with ferocity that was at that
tin, 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 tho white stallion as if pro jected
out of cannon's mouth.
But lightning-like as was the attack,
it was countered by a movement as
electric and as effec tive on the part Of
the equine hero.
There was white, whirling sort of
flash, out few 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 tho wooden
wall of the pit till it fairly trembled.
The rajah frowned, while Mahala's
soft face correspondingly frightened,
and the bronze face of Mohun slowly
relaxed into smile as he drew her
slight figure yet more reassuringly to
his side; the entire British contingent
at the same time bursting into sh out
that rang and reverberated over the
shriler plaudits of the native onlookers
much like the hoarse braying of battle
horn ovar the squeakings and clamor-
ings of the flies and kettledrums.
"Auother thousand on Nadgkar'
cried Pom dexter, excitedly futtering
two fingers at the potentate in betting
book fashion. "a whole lag of rupees,
if only had theml What says your
Excel!cncy2s
Djampudra -Hassan composedly nodd-
ed his assent, and the wager was re.
corded.
ut was Djeridgowkas first miscal-
culation; his impatienco ovcrreached it.
SELF" he said, stroking his beard once
more. "Watch him now"
Apparently but slightly injured by
his repulse, though painting slightly, the
tiger had resumed his silent, watchful
circlugs of the arena, seemingly with
no more want of confidence in himself
than if they had not been in the leas.
interrupted.
But the stallion was now seen to have
changed his tactics so far that, while re-
suming his pivotal gyrations, his head,
in lieu of his hindquarters, were now
presented to the front.
Another breathless interval of sus
pcnse, followed by fresh hurtling
spring on the part of the tiger.
Bat it was countered even more Gun.
ningly and effectively than before
Crouching and gliding under the flying
black and yellow bulk, much as
gazelle might crouchingly evade lam
mergeyers hurtling swoop. out few tn
glistening heels again at just the righ
instant, this time bringing up with tire
mendous impact on the monsters flank
SO that when Djerid gowka's revolutions
were resumed. as they were almost in.
stantly, it was with sullen, half-gasp-
ing air, and with perceptible limr
that betokened more than a trifling in.
jury to his hips.
Another thousand to five hundred
on the white stallionp vociferatet
Poindexter yet again over the many
voiced applause. '.Is it 60, your Elk
cellencyl Or go you three to onep
The Rajah's Oriental composure ha'
deepened into something more thar
Oriental guinness; and his cruel gaz
roamed from the tiger to the little be
gum-now radiant--with a smoldorin,
fierceness of dissatisfaction; but he
nevertheless, inclined hi, head majesti
cally, and the third additional bet wa
registered.
But again and again was the tiger
spring repeated, and with no botter sue
cess, save that on one occasion one Q
his mighty forepaws managed to fetcl
the brave steed long raking strok
along the loins, ripping his skin int
strips and staining his silvery coat will
blood.
1t was now a forcgoue conclusion tina
Nadgka would be the victor The Eng
lishmen roared themselves hoarse; eve
the natives yelled their unrestraine
delight, in spite of their royal master
displeasure; while little Mahala fairl
clapped her hands and bounded in hi
seat at the side of her sternvisaged prs
tector.
But Djeridgowka, though plainly di
pirited, had as yet suffered no positiv,
ly disabling injury, and it was quickl
evident that he intended to make OF
more effort to retrieve the day.
Without the slightest warning ne SUE
denly changed his tactics by swervin
from his prowling circuit, and runnin
instead of leaping directly toward Il