Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-09-06

stunted trees. We were about to
emerge from these. when the mahout
brought the elephant by a single word
TO a sudden halt. and leaning forward
pointed to a continuation of the slope
in front of us.
At the foot of rocky ercampment
the tiger had just come to halt. and
standing as he was sideways from us,
facing up the hill, not two hundred
yards away. his every motion was
clearly to be seen. His head was
raised and his eyes were fixed on the
mouth of 4 cave distinctly visible in
the face of the cliff
In his mouth was the body of the
child, gripped in his iron jaws by the
waist cloth, insensible, If not dead.
At any rate it showed not the slightest
sign of life. Twice | raised my rifle
| to my shoulder. and twice foreb0re to
fire, as at the slightest noise the man
eater might resume his fight, and with
that would vanish all hope OF saving
the child's life if he yet breathed.
1t was while we thus gazed upon the
scene that with Il low, purriug sound,
u beautifully spotted female tigress is
sued from the mouth OF the cave and
her aspect, unlike that OF her ferocious
mate, was singularly gentle-even
| mOurnful.
What struck me rs most peculiar at
this juncture Of affairs, however, was
the conduct of our guide He had no
sooner set eyes on this second animal
than his dusky face became of an ashen
color and he trembled violently.
My God" he said, They are the
man-eaters of Bhopal. We killed the
cubs the week before last. 1he old
ones are supposed to have gone mad.
If they detect our presence they will
undoubtedly attack us"
Whilst | knew that Rachottcc, the
driver. was only yielding to his super
stitiouS fears, and that the danger of
two tigers successfully coping with two
determined men, both good shots,
mounted on an elephant, was more
imaginary than real, yet the words of
the mahout sent IA strange thrill through
me, despite myself. They must be the
same beasts whom Baker had lately
told me about, who when the cubs were
killed had charged upon the beaters
again and again, horribly mangling
several of their number and finally es-
Gaping into the mountains, only slightly
wounded.
Although generally accounted n
brave man. must confess to IA feeling
of considerable trepidation as gazed
upon the gigantic proportions aud fero-
c.ous aspect of these animals and knew
that at any moment we might be en-
gagged in life or death conflict with
them.
But up to this time they appeared to
be totally unconscious Of our presence.
We deemed ii best not to shoot. but to
await developments.
Presently the man-eater, despite the
ominous growls Of his partner, laid the
body of the child upon the ground and
placing his paws upon it was about to
attack it with his huge teeth. The un-
fortunate woman by my side, unable
to bear the sight, covered her face in
her hands Her low means were pitiful
to hear. Suddenly, bGfore the man
eater could bury his huge fangs in the
tender flesh. the tigress, with roar
like thunder, sprang upon her lord,
and in another moment the huge beasts
were at it tooth aud nail. | have
sat in the amphitheater at Madrid
and seen the baited bull mad
dened with rage, dash down upon
his tormentors; | have seen the wild
boar of Hungary, brought to bay, turn
savagely upon his foe; have seen the
passions of anger and hatred depicted
in many forms aud in many climes; but
never have | witnessed any thing TO
equal the dreadful aspect of those two
gigantic animals as they tore and bit
each other in the iercest strife; fight
ing for the possession of the body Of
that child. Now one. now the other
would get hold Op the throat OF its
opponent and tear away huge pieces OF
flesh with its hideous fangs; their great
eyes all the time cleaning with fire,
their supple bodies swaying TO and fro
as they grappled in struggle TO the
death. They must nave fought thus for
upwards OF twenty minutes. sometimes
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getting an advantage; when, glancing
for a moment from the scene Of this
unique contest 10 the spot where the
child was lying ! saw it. TO my aston
ishment. move and otherwise give un-
doubted signs OF life. The mother saw
it also. and il Rad not stopped her
would have cried aloud. "He lives. he
lives
Soon. gazing in astonishmert, we saw
the little fellow II up and look over to
where the tigers we're raging in battle.
Instead of beirg frightened. however.
he clapped his hands in childish glee.
/ felt that would give a lac or rupees
TO save him. He was quite unharmed.
having only beea stunned.
See" said the young mother,
proudly, despite her fears. ''see. he is
not frightened. All! his father was
hunter"
| turned my gaze again upon the
ferocious combatants. Twice | lifted
my rifle to end the contest and twice
Baker said, as he put aside my barrel.
Don't fire. Let them fight it out.
I 1t will make our work the easier"
So l foreboTe, and we sat there and
witnessed the dreadful strife drawing to
a close; for weakened by loss OF blood,
utterly exhausted and with his entrails
dragging on the ground, the man-eate-
with a last desperate effort sPrang up
ward at his opponent, missed his mark.
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