The National tribune., 1890-11-20

by them protected on each flank and over
head. After discussing the outlook, the i'm
possibility OF guarding an approaches by
three men was agreed upon. So we con
cluded 10 station our forces as follows: One
should take post On particularly high rock
which was steep an around aud hugh enough
70 be safe fro". any possible attack This
was halfway up the hillside, west Of the
raviDe. The other two were 70 occupy the
seniry-h0x, which faced The whole rayine.
and also covered the approach 70 the brook.
Having agreed a. 10 this. We crossed the
brook and krtod the rayine up one side
aud down the other. We found plenty OF
tracks, showing clearly that the tiger used
several exits We then examined the brook,
and found a weil-worn avenue among and
under the powders, where she came for
water, and there also we found the print OF
her feet in the sand at the waters edge.
From its size we knew that she was full
sized, or perhaps above the average, as it
was fully seven inches in diameter.
COntented with our examination and plan,
we walked back 10 the storehouse, not, how
ever without an occasional glance backward
TO see If Mrs. Puss was on our trail Tong"
our long-tailed domestic, had discovered us
returning, and had prepared famous din
ner, TO which we paid close attention, as it
was past o'clock in the afternoon. As
soon as our meal was over we prepared for
sleep, giving Tong orders to call us when
the sun got low, and have plenty coffee"
Sailors, you know, are used TO
TURNING NIGHT INTO DAY
and day into night so we were all soon
asleep, and only too quickly did Tong"
call us. Girding on our belts, containing 30
cartridges each, and fixing our bayonets we
gulped the coffee and hasteuod to the head
Of the valley. As we went along the ques-
tion as 10 who should take the rock came
up, and as had on a heavy blanket over
coat, il was decided that for the first night
would keep the solitary guard, and the
other two in the sentry-b0x could keep
warm, as they were out Of the night wind.
Arriving at the rock, after considerable
scrambliug gained it, summit by creeping
up on the shoulders Of my two comrades
grumbling very considerably at this trouble,
but later ] thanked my stars Ensooncod
with my rife IN little hollow at the top,
could see al around, except a circle Of some
10 feet at the base. My comrades babe me
gooS -night, and / soon saw them crawl into
their covert
Quiet now reiRned; hour after hour
passed; il was not dark, a. the moon. now
in her second quarter gave light enough,
except where the shadows fell. Several
times ] seemed 10 see moving objects, but
each time found myself deceived by the
growing shadows. Finally, about 2 o'clock.
the moon set and the clouds obscured the
stars, leaving me in total darkness. Feeling
that further watching was useless, lapsed
into gentle slumber
Grow-wow-wow" and the fall Of a
heavy something close 10 me reused
me from my slumber in such a sudden
way that j almost jumped from my
lofty perch. A heavy thud on the
ground at the base Of the rock caused me
70 speak, thinking perhaps my friends were
there, but an instant later the roar Of a wild
! beast and the angry clash Of it's claws as il
/ jumped up and almost upon the rock made
my hair rise. The tables were turned. ]
+ was being hunted, and the worst Of il was
1 that ] could zee nothing. The animal
ranged around Grst on one side, then on
the other, making leap after leap each one
almost Up, but not quite. Az she Toared !
1 fired my rife, and by its fash could zee
the huge bead and heavy paws rise, bat
before J could reload she was gone. OH for
q repeating r.hs-a toTch-an electric light
But having none u these, took my sword,
bayonst in hand, and ~ sho roarod would
strike Ia the direction Ia which ! thought
she would BE-. Once hit hef paws az knew
by The soft landing which ID made
AND TIKI EhVAoE uROWL
which came promptly Ia reply. ! soon tired
~ tbis, aud, cr0nchiuE ln my hollow, en-.
duTod for Two hours the awful suspense
doa1iHg some leap moTe faf-TeaehiBg lban
betOre, when those sharp claws should strike
fne " some cleit which would give a foot