Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-07-10

Il AAlrAlAAu uAAI 8lAl4Et-lL Imagine NuEM u N
sensation as felt the hage beast put its
nose, FIRST to my feet. smiling and tax
g deep snufiiing bresths- as you know
= strange dog viii against your leg when
be wants to discover whether you are
friend or foe. and as If preparing to take
a piece out Of your calf Then the nose
passed upward 70 nv knees and body,
thence 20 one exposed hand. which was
licked-licked. mark you, by a tongue
like the toughest file, coarse enough 70
scarify the flesh. But this was not the
wOrst-the muzzle. cold and wet. vet
wssh the hot breath rushing out from
the nOstrils as from a fOul-smelling fur
mace, came sext upOn my face. across
my forehead and closed eyelids, TO my
mouth. and here with another rasping
ssOurge Of that horrible tongue
Il can not dwell upon the situation.
By Gods mercy the resolute cetermina-
tiOn to lie perfectly motiOnless did not
desert me. / never so much as
/ Quivered- far less breathed: and this
saved my life One more lick. one
more long. deep inhalation close TO my
nose. sniff or two at the pillow, and
the creature crept slowly beneath the
bed Again the mattress heaEed. from
the upward pressure beneath. and then
me that the beast had stretched itself
out upon the floor. exactly under me-"
Poor Bob does not attempt to describe
the agony Of mind he thenceforward
endured, fOr-he does not know how
long. Afraid to move . muscle. lest he
should again arouse the animal. afraid
at irst 20 even open his eyes. he only
remembers. poor chap. that BY degrees
the slowly increasing dawn Of day gave
him courage to think and TO cogitate on
what il were best 10 do. II would not
be wise TO give the beast time TO take
his nap aud then 90 for another prOwl
rOund the room Whatever he did he
knew must be done at a bound and =
rush. and that soon Should he make
dash at the window standing invit-
ingly open. scale the balcony and drop?
No; beside being high above ground. he
remembered that the window looked
out upon the kitchen garden. and just
below IL were some cucumber frames.
and he dreaded the damage he would
infict upon himself and the glass in the
inevitable smash which must ensue. Yet
the window was little nearer than the
doOr-he could almost reach il in two
strides: and the door would have to be
opened and closed after him. a process
which he imagined might give his
visitor an opportunity Of springing
upon him. for. unluckily. he had. c0n-
--zry 70 his custom, turned the key in
his sense Of strange depression Still.
clearly the door was the fttest means Of
escape. and after little more due con-
sideration he determined TO adopt this
course. Quick and agile a. a cat. he
thought he could manage 20 slip out ere
he could be pOunced upon Just how
ever. as he was preparing for the at
tempt another yawning howl signified
that the repOse OF the intruder had been
disturbed The heavy breathing which
had continued during my boys deliber-
alton was not resumed. but instead there
ensued licking. gnawing. crnnching
sound. such rs one hears At the ZOOlOg-
ical gardens when the beasts of prey
have been fed and are lazily enjoying
the remnant favor left on some bare
bone Once more Bob hesitated- Yet
would not matters grow worse il he
longer delayed an attempt He had al
ready lost a chance while the creature
slept He might soon see il emerge
from its hiding place Yes. he must
run the risk at cnce-he could not en-
dune the suspense longer
Il was now broad daylight. the cool
morning breeze was sweeping refresh
ingly into the room As IL came across
his fevered brow he felt refreshed His
courage rose. and although he had new
er stirred from his crouching posture,
he now prepared for a spring He made
one hound into the middle Of the room.
a second brought him 70 the door. his
hand was on the lock. it was opened in /
a moment and. as in siding out he |
turned 70 close il after him. he caught |
one glimpse of hinge tiger emerging |
from beneath the bed
To fy down the steps and cross the 4
lawn % the stables and 20 arouse the 4
grO0ms, were the acts. you NAV be sure.
Of a very few minutes One OF the men
sOOu appeared at a window. and almost
before he had time 70 huddle on some
clothes. after bearing from Bob Of the
emergency. there was knocking. ham
mering and hallOOing at the outer gate
Of the stable yard. which opened on to
the high road When il was thrown
back. Bob and the groom encountered
three sturdy, sho-t-necked, broad-shoul-
iered. thick-set men, and little be-
hind them stood a small. one-hOrsed
closed sort Of van. with its driver in
fnonL Their presence was soon ac-
for.
Sorry TO disturb We, mister said
heir spokesman. but We reckon we've
chased some Of our property onto your
grounds. Our Royal Bengal tiger man
,ged to slip out Of his den last night
lfter the performance, and got away.
md al last we reckon we've come upon
him. He managed to make good meal
N one your lambs in the field
Dver a'gin them glass houses tiother
ide OF your summer house. We
'omc upon the hide and part OF the car
us, which gave US a clew, and we was
bic 70 follow up his lOrdship's foot
teps through your hedge on the lawn
There was a lot o the wool and some of
he witals hanging 10 the thorns. show
ng as he was minded 90 finish his meal
n luxury. don't you sees lie carried
n tit-bit asCag with him, no doubt.
o as just TO enjoy finish like"
Yes cried Bob. interrupting this
ong harangue. and he selected my
edrOOm as the incest place for his sup
er he could find left him Ep there
ot ten minutes ago"
The mischief you did, exclaimed
be man. in establishments This 'ere's
lck. and no mistake. He's there now.
o you say. sir?7
Bob nodded. and then went on 70 ex-
lain what had happened. as the whole
arty were making their way back 20
be summer house. Ny son now OBJ
srved that the men carried heavy :
-ou-ha-S sorna roueS a chain and a