Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09

US, eight or tea rushing up to sniff the
goats blood. There were other sounds
Like a wall from dead, misguided mil
ions came the melancholy cry of the de-
vstee Ia his solitary and painful vigil
and not long after we heard the gruf bark
or grunt of proving tiger from across
| the ''sarkee."
With that 1 softly drew out my "call''
and began sobbing and crying like a
| child in distress.
| Old Geeter started and uttered & low
exclamation. then, as quickly divining my
motive, he sat down again in his former
listening posture.
Several times I initiated the cry of
Hindoo children--"maumay, maumay,
maumay"-then sobbed on as some little
one lost in the jungle.
| Presently my old confrere whispered:
"Beech" (Hush) "tarku 20" (the beast
| hears).
Iheard nothing and continued to hear
not sound, but the old native was grasp
ing one of his spears, crouching on his
knees, every muscle braeed.
| Five or ten minutes passed on.
l fancied the old mans ears were not
so sharp as 1 thought them. But on a
/
carnivorious beast scents a CORY morsel
broke the stiffness. Looking intently
| through the darkness in that direction. ]
saw two flashing orbs in the high grass,
Eear by.
Slowly, stealthily, and with scarcely q
rustic of the dry stalk, those green tinted
| fiery eyes we're coming nearer.
The carcass of the goat was hung up
| +ba
Within twelve or fifteen yards the crea-
ture seemed to Fl at me, bound from out
the grass against the side of the cage ut
terlng a low, intense growl.
The cage shook violently. was thrown
to one side, but old Geeter, better pre-
pared than /, kept mis- crouching position
and as the tiger chung, growing horribly,
the very image of venomous wrath, thrust
his spear, woundlng 1t.
Astonlshed at the sharp prick, the
great beast bounded to one side, then
with a savage roar sprang against the
Gage again. It wrenched and tore at the
cage with its claws. The bamboo bars
sprung aud cracked frightfully.
But this was the chance ola Geeter was
waiting for. Before could take aim or
fire he lunged with ell his force, driving
that long acute lance point out betwixt
the bars, deep into the tigers exposed
breast.
With loud, agonized cry, strangling
in the contrast with its deep bass growl
and roar, the beast leaped backwards to
the ground. It was the animals mortal
cry, and never saw more fearful death
struggle.
Time and a. ain it bounced nigh in the
air, tumbling down heavily, only to leap
upward again. It's fearfully hideous cries
might have been heard leagues off.
It must have been some minutes ere
Death relieved the animals dying pains,
nor did we venture forth till it lay limp
and breathIess. Daylight showed it to be
a very sleek, yellow and black notified
tiger of the largest size. 1t had fattened
on human flesh. Not less than thirteen
persons, including children, had been it's
victims during the month it had beset the
village.
Remained 20 see the people of the ham
let come out at sunrise to exult over the
''karachu." They performed a kind of
thanksgiving dance. Old Geeter remain
ed with them-to' collect his pay pre-
sumo.
Two days later saw him pass Jooa in
his cage on freight train. He looked as
grim as ever.