Wichita eagle., 1888-07-06

village OF kazotpors came family TO our
ears over many miles The stars shone
down with misty luster. It was very
damp. yet warm.
Once cloud Of green. sparkling fire
flies came, and drifting in betwixt the
stout bars Of the cage. fairly lighted it
with their glinting fires. Later dole
fully bowling pack Of jackals swept past
US. eight or ten rushing up to sniff the
goats blood. There were other sounds.
Like q wall from dead. misguided millions
came the melancholy cry Of the devotee
in his solitary and painful vigil, and not
long after we heard the gruf bark or
grunt Of q prowling tiger from across the
''sarkee.
With that softly drew out my "call'
and began sobbing and crying like 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 initiated the cry of Hin
doc children-"maumay. maumay, mau-
may"-then sobbed on as some little one
lost in the jungle.
Presently my old confrere whispered:
'Beesh" Nush) ''tarku 20" (the beast
hears).
heard nothing and continued to hear
not sound, but the old native was grasp
ing ono of his spears, crouching on his
knees, every muscle braced.
Five or ten minutes passed on
fancied the old mans ears were hardly
so sharp as I thought them. But on a
sudden low, eager shuttle. as when some
carniverous beast scents CORY morsel,
broke tho stiffness. Looking intently
through the darkness in that direction
saw two flashing orbs in the high grass.
Slowly, stealthily. and with scarcely q
rustic of the dry stalks. those green
tinted, fiery eyes were coming nearer.
The carcass Of the goat was hung up
against the cage bars. inside it.
Within twelve or fifteen yards the crea-
ture seemed to fly at me. bound from out
the grass against the side Of the cage, ut
tering low. intense howl.
The cage rocked violently. I was
| thrown to one side, but old Geeter. better
prepared for the shock than l, kept his
crouching position, and as the tiger chung,
growing and tearing at the carcass, he
thrust his spear, giving it q slight
wound.
| Astonished at the sharp prick. the
great beast bounded to one side. then
with q savage roar sprang against the
cage again, its eyes flashing. growing
horribly. the picture of venomous wrath.
The air was sitting with musky breath
1t wrenched and tore at the cage with its
! claws The bamboo bars sprung and
cracked frightfully.
But this was the chance old Geeter was
waiting for. Before could take aim or
fire he lunged with all his force. driving
that long acute lance point out betwixt
the bars. deep into the tigers exposed
] breast.
With loud. agonized cry, strangely in
contrast with its deep bass growl and
roar, the beast leaped backwards to the
ground It was tho animals mortal cry.
and l never saw a more fearful death
struggle.
Time and again it bounded high in the
air. tumbling down heavily, only to leap
upward again Its 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 breathless 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 its
victims during the month it had beset the
village
Remained to see the people of the ham
let come out at sunrise to exult over the
"karachu. They performed kind Of
thanksgiving dance, Old Geeter remained
with them-to collect his pay. presume
Two days later | saw him pass Jooa in
his cage on freight train. He looked as
grim as ever.-Chicago Mail