The Press., 1888-11-29
A FOUR FOOTED CONTEST.

'Djeridgowka will kill the stallion at the first spring." said the rajah, in his lazy, arrogant, and heartiess way. "There is no tiger of hill or jungle that can compare with my Djeridgowka Ghunder spear1 for size, strength, and ferocity. The white steed, were he twenty fold the equine hero you claim for him, Sahib Colonel, would not evade his doom. He will go down like shot, and you will no longer dispute my guardian ship over Mahala, the demure little Nautch girl under your wing there"
 "But, your excellency," said the officer ad- dressed, Eff the stallion should win, the girl will go to Bombay with me, according to your august promisep'
 The dusky potentate waved his arm, whose jewel stiffened sleeve fairly blazed with the movement.
 ''You have my word, Sahib, ," was his super cilious reply. "The word of Djainpudra Hassan, rajah of Nagpoor, is his bond"
 Certainly" called out Maj. Poindexter, another red coated officer of the group. "But if you are so sure of your tiger winning, ex- cellency, will lay you an additional thou sand of rupees on Nadgka, the mountain stallion"
 The rajah inclined his head in assent, and the wager was duly registered by an, obse- quious white robed secretary at hls elbow.
 The arena was a deep walled circular pit. about 100 feet in diameter, and around this the tiers of seats, with a capacity of 5000 spectators, rose so steeply as to give every one, even the humblest, complete view of the interior, and yet grant immunity from the fercest wild beasts spring.
 In addition to the throng of personal at tendants surrounding the rajah in the gor- geously tapestried state compartment sacred to his accommodation, there was 6 group of English officers, resplendent in their scarlet uniforms
 The first one of these to whom the ra1ah had addressed himself was Col Mohun, and at his side was singularly beautiful young Hindu girl, the Mahala referred to. Every thing was at stake with the poor child in the unique combat that was about to ensue Mohun had found her with band of Chant dancing women or Hindu gypsies of the Deccan, and secretly verified rumor that she was the last surviving child of Muley Hassan, half brother of the present rajah of Nagpoor, who had, after usurping the throne, foully murdered all the other rightful heirs, many of whom he had thrown as prey to his favorite tigers. The rajah had only been prevented from wrestling Mahala from her self constituted protector through a whole someafear of the British conquerors, but had at last exerted his malign and still powerful insistence to such an extent that the present contest had been agreed on as a test of the girls guardianship
 The rajah agreed to pit his champion fight ing tiger Djeridgowke against a white stall lion, likewise noted for his cumulative dis position, that Col. Mohun had obtained from the foot hills of the Western Chants, justly celebrated for their fine cavalry stock, much of which is blooded, with pure Arabian an- cestry. ~%.
 Should the stallion win, Mahala would be transferred to the protection of powerful friends in Bombay, with fair prospect of one day recovering at least portion of her inheritance. Should the tiger come of the victor, she was to be surrendered uncondi- tionally to her cruel and rapacious kinsman, whose appalling character was sufficient guarantee of the terrible fate in that event awaiting her. ~--
 There was a sea like murmur of anticfpa- tion, and all eyes were riveted on one of two strong iron gratings that were side by side in the wall of the pit, on level with its sandy floor. .f
 An instant later it shot aside, and there was an involuntary burst of applause as ths noble horse bounded into view
 Bring forth the horsel The horse was brought.
 In truth he was anoble steed,
 A Tartar Of the Ukraine breed,
 Who looked as though the speed of thought
 Were in his limbs But be wildl
 He was not large, but perfectly propor- tioned, with glistening coat, as of snowy satin, a mane and tail that were of a light golden tinge, furnishing contrast as unique as 1t was harmonious and beautiful Fire was in his eye, the rhythm of speed and ac- tivity in his fine limbs, and, as he curveted snorting around the arena, it was noticed that his small hoofs were shod with new and sharp steel shoes, that fairly flashed like a running rivulet in tEe sunshine, with the graceful and airy movements that scarcely seemed to touch the earth, and yet were sug- gestive of a fierce wariness and expectancy
 The raj jah stroked his beard once moro and smiled again.
 "Tt was not mentioned fn the compact that Nadgka should be shod, 1" said he. ''Still, waive the point-I can we'll afford to-"
 Then he strengthened himself with 6 cruelty gloating and exultant look, and there was q fresh burst of many throated applause, not Nnmixed with terror, as the other grating shot back with clang, and the vaunted monarch of the jungle, after springing into the arena with snarling sort of roar, began circling around aud around it in ominous silence, with his eyes fastened on every move xnent of the stallion, who coolly kept revolv- ing in the center, as on a pivot, head down. and heels invariably to the foe. sf"~
 "Djeridgowka's way-Dj Djeridgowka's pet trick!" chuckled the rajah, rubbing his jew eled hands together. @s'Sahib Colonel, in two minutes Nadgka's satin skin will be in red ribbonsr E+#s SA
 The tiger was, for very truth, 6 prodigy, even for those days, when larger and hercer specimens were made prisoners than now. He was four feet tall at the shoulder pre- cisely eight feet in length from tip to tip, and correspondingly proportioned, with ferocity that was at that time proverbial throughout India
 Round and round progled the monster with no more sound than would have been pro- duced by the footballs of a kitten. Suddenly there was an exulting roar, the large striped bulk seemed to fly up into the air as though hurled hy 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 attack, it was countered by movement as electric and as effective on the part of the equine hero.
 There was white, whirling sort of flash, out flew the glistening steel shod heels, strik- ing the tiger in the chest, while yet in mid air, with the force of a catapult, and hurling him back with resounding crash against the wooden wall of the pit till it fairly trembled.
 The rajah frowned, while Mahaia's sofs face correspondingH frightened, and the
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