The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-12-18


case large revolver, and turned into the
passage again. In minute or so | was
in Godfrey's room. He was half un-
dressed "What's the matterl" he de-
manded, with startled eyes. When |
had told him, Inc took my hand and
wrung it. "You may thank God that
you are alive, old fellow" Then he
dressed hurriedly, took heavy rife from
a rack, and flied his pockets with cart
ridges. "Come along; stay, let me go
first your nerves are bit shaky vet"
We crept out and awakened the punkah
wallah, an old and faithful IIindoo,
whom my brother once nursed during a
dangerous ilness-a brave and trust
worthy man, who would have laid his
life down for Godfrey.
at is the man -eaterm said the Hin
doc, after my recital.
"You will come with us, RameeW
asked my brother. The old man smiled
as if the question were superhuous.
"Will the sahib let his servant advise
himg"
'Yes, Rance; tell me your plan"
As the IIindoo rapidly unfolded it, my
brother smiled obviously at the strange
idea.
"Cunuing must be met with cunning"
said the Hindoo.
"It'll take three hours to arrange" l
remarked.
"Three hours will bring the dawn;
now, who can see in the dark mot the
sahib, but yes, the tiger"
every well" said Godfrey, ''lct's see
about it at once" From the gardeners
clubhouse we brought a roll of wire net
ting which had been put there for fenc-
ing in paddock Il few days previously.
| Together we collected armsful of shavings
the workmen had not cleared away,
/ quantities of dried leaves, rags--every
/ thing we could find soft and pliable; and,
having cut the wire into three square
lengths, firmly lashed them together, one
over the other. When completed, it was
the shape but rather larger than the win
dow in the room in which the tiger lay
/ hidden, and the doors of which had been
| locked. Our operations so far had been
conducted upon the veranda outside, near
| the gardeners room; we then rolled up
the wire netting and carried it round the
corner of the house to within few
yards of the big window; here it
was unrolled again and flattened out,
then upon its surface we poured all the
shavings, rags, leaves and refuse we had
collected, and upon this mass smeared
and spread quantity of lime left by the
workmen Tor the morrow. This we
smoothed down as well as we were able,
till the whole mass assumed some con-
sistency and clung to the interstices of
the netting. Rance next took some
stout twine and improvised a rough kind
of needle from bamboo-cane. With
this implement he sewed all over the
mass of stuff, thus making string-net-
ting which helped to keep the compost
ton in its place. So far, so good; the
most difficult operation yet remained.
"Take my gun" said Godfrey to me,
''and give me the revolver"
"Sahib, whispered the Hirdoo, plac-
ing n restraining hand upon my brother,
'let Rance complete his works it not
his dutyl If he fails he shall suffer" "
"You foolish man," said Godfrey,
show can you do it alone2" With slow
and noiseless steps the netting, looking
very like large mattress, was carried eX-
actly opposite the window and laid gent
ly down; then both retired as silently as
they bad advanced.
Rance then brought from the out
house a ladder, and with gesturoiof en-
treaty signed to my brother tol stand
aside and take his rifle in his hand.
With bare feet the Hindoo crep1up tc
the window again and reared theiladdel
against the wall. Taking n coil of rope
from his neck, he deftly fastened it &c
the highest wall staple of the outside
shutter. Descending, he quickly enlaced
the short stand in the netting, placed the
ladder on the other side, and ran the
thong through the other staple. Fol
the first time he made noise, but it was
unavoidable, caused by the netting be
ing drawn upward till it hung;like great
curtain, covering the shutter and hiding
the window from us.
Cooley and l stood ready to fire.
The Hindoo, perspiring at every pore
descended the ladder, which he lowered
and placed horizontally on the window
sill, and lashed it to the bottom of tn,
netting and again fastened that to tn,
; two lower staples on either side.
The thing was done; far away on tn,
east the dawn was breaking, above whicl
the morning star was slowly paling it
{ silver fire.
p "But, Rance, the shutters are stiltfa
s. tened!'
"Sahib, l unfastened them; they ar
Il, open the breadth of a mana hand pres
NJ emily the light will stream through"
/ "Quick; fetch another rifle -
? When he returned, took the gun anC
gave him my revolver.
gI A light breath of wind passed mur
tt muring through the feathery crowns o
: the slender cocoa-palms, two grea
a. spears Of light shot up in the sky, some
+ where in the garden a bird sang-th
oi sun had risen. ''Wait the signal, whis
r. pered my brother; 'Dow, Rance" Tn
l d Hindoo knelt down and initiated tn
. bleating of Kid that had lost its mother
, At the instant Rance sprang to his feet
the silence was rent by Il sunderini
y crash and sudden, terrific roar; tn
G shutters were torn from their sockets,
t great mass hurled itself precipitatel
through the window, and the tiger, wit
D its head and shoulders buried in tn
C lime-covered debris, was graphing i
\ 1.