Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-08-09

dry for the want of moisture, quietly
aroused my companion and told him 70
watch while refreshed myself l was
behind the partition drinking from the
= when the native uttered low cry Of
alarm and bounded in upon me and shut
down the door had the jar yet in my
hand when heavy body dropped TO the
floor and heard the snarl and saw the
form OF a tiger In the hut This was
what had happened: The tiger had APP
preached the house from tho opposite
direction, and. creeping softly around,
had sprung for the opening and into
the natives face. In his alarm the
man had started back and dropped his
gun, while mine was leaning against
the door. He had shut the partition
door, however, and that saved IA. There
we were. face TO faca with a full-grown
maa-eater with only bamboo partition
between us and his fangs, and am
frank to say that for a moment was
completely done for. The native flung
himself down on his face without q
word, and knew that neither suggcs-
tions nor aid could be expected from
him.
1t was a starlight night but the small
opening in the wall of the hut made the
room pretty dark. | could Just make
out the outlines of the tiger as he moved
10 and fro, while his eyes were like two
small lanterns There was no floor in
the hut, the ground being beaten hard
instead, but ! could feel sort OF Jar as
the tiger moved about He made
thorough inspection OF every thing In
the front room, and then turned his at
tention 10 me. My revolver was in my
baggage, and so | was entirely destitute
OF weapons. had seen the native wear
Ing long knife duing the day, and
called TO him to know IL he had IL with
him. He was crying with fear. and
would not answer ME | went over to
him and found the knife In a sheath at
his belt, and when | haa "a IL my hand
ny courage came back In moment.
about that time the .lger had discov-
cred that tho only victims in the cabin
were behind the partition. and he found
cd against IL right opposite me with a
force that made every thing crack. Left
70 himself he would have knocked il
down in short order. but was there to
interfere. hacked him with the knife,
and from the way he snarled and spit
! knew that i had cut him. lie withdrew
to the far end of the room. growing
manaeingly, and ! could hear him lick
the blood which the knife had drawn.
The general situation was far from
pleasant Ky knocking on the rear
shutter and calling out | could make
/ Captain White understand how matters
were. hut on second thought felt that
IL would be to his risk. The tiger might
/ 60 out at the opening any moment, and
i II he encountered any one outside a
tragedy was certain. To alarm the vii.
lage was to bring about the same thing.
\ Even II could get out Of the rear win.
I dow by forcing open the shutter the tiger
I had only to go out Of the other window
at the same time TO pick me up. felt
/ that was pretty fair match for him
with the knife in my hand. ard hoping
that he would give up and leap out OF
\ the window after receiving another cut
I decided to wait. ! could Just make
him out AS he lay on the floor near the
door, and was standing close 10 the
7 partition when he suddenly uttered .
roar OF anger and charged. lie struck
the sliding door with great smash
and his right forcpaw struck at me
through one OF the openings. | hacked al
II and gave him severe cut in the leg.
This time he set up such dreadful
roar Of pain and rage that half the vii.
lage was aroused by the noise. He
/ drew back and ran along the partition
probably hoping 10 find weak spot
and three several times he reared up on
bis hind legs seized tho BAN boos in his
teeth and shook them as you have seen
a dog worry at root when digging AT
the hole OF some wild animal. Then
he bounded toward the front and sought
10 go out Of the window, but stuck in
the opening, snarling and growing. and
finally dropped back. He tried this
three tsnes and then gave up. A we
afterward discovered, there was huge
silver on the log at the top OF the
opening This pointed inward. As the
tiger crowded his bulk into the opening
he pressed this silver up against the
log. When he undertook to go out the
silver diminished the size OF tho open
ing and stuck in his back like a dagger.
The uproar he made alarmed Captain
White, and he called out TO know what
was the matter.
The tiger is IN the front room and
can't get out!' answered
"Nhy don't you shoot him?a
THE guns are in the room with him. "
When had fairly explained the stu.
alton be advised that | be on my guard
and ready to use the knife, and that 1t
would not be safe to make any new
move until We had daylight TO aid us ]
did moi know at that time that the tiger
could not get out where he came in, or
could have forced the rear shutters and
escaped from the hut. The beast skunk
Into corner and lay there for a tim,
whining and growing. Then he trie
the opening again. and when he founa
himself prisoner, he sat up ON end
ead hoMlcd with fear. believe | could
havo then driven him about with q
stick.
As the tiger lost his ferocity the ma
tive with me regained his courage, and
by and hy hc got up and found a heavy
stick among the bales OF goods and stood
ready To assist me in beating OF any
new attack. While the entire village
was awake, no one moved out Of his
house. and all waited for the coming
OF daylight At intervals OF ht
teen minutes Captain White sang
out 10 Us 10 know II we were all right,
and about an hour before daylight be
warned me that the beast would ne
a. ~