The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-12-25
ONE SHOT WAS ENOUGH
SUCCESSFUL BUT DANGEROUS PUR.
SUIT OF A TIGER.
How a Royal Specimen Was Trapped In
His Lair and Followed to His
Death.

Ne-lnaI Is, the MAYOR, tOCtOi dHu
myself had been pOttering about the
outskirts of the Terai for some days,
hoping TO get news of a tiger, says
writer in Harper'S Weebiy. We had
Just pitched our camp when our shl-
karri. Ali by name, came. hurriedly
to our tent, saying that the headman
of neighboring village wished to speak
with US. With him were some of the
villagers, who came As deputatlon,
praying us 10 rid them of a tiger that
was PLAYING sad havoc with their cat
tie. The proposition was jumped at,
and with Ali and two of his assistants
| returned to the village with the
headmau. A wretched specimen of a
bullock was bought for few rupees,
and was led out into the jungle.
A good spot was found in an open
space that at some time or another had
been cleared for cultivation. A dead
tree stood conveniently near the dense
forest, and to this the bullock was
tied aud we left the poor brute to its
fate while two men climbed into a
tree to watch. Dinner was ready by
the time | returned TO camp; and the
major told us of his previous eXpe-
riences with tigers. The doctor had
been on many tiger hunt, but had
never yet bagged one of the royal
quarry. The fact of the matter was he
was mad on ornthOlogy, and he con-
fessed that on more than one occasion
he had been watching some rare speci-
men of the feathered tribe and lost
the golden opportunity for a good
shot.
We turned in early, aud soon the
camp was hushed in silence. but the
forest was alive with animal and in
sect life. Thousands of STIMULATING
cicada seemed to make the very air
vibrate, while here and there among
bushes the tire-ilies flashed to and fro.
Above all, the insect chorus, however,
could be heard the howl OF the hyena
or the bark of the proving jackal.
DAYLIGHT saw us astlr, and with 1t
came the welcome news that the tiger
had killed our bait during the night.
Chautahazri, consisting OF coffee and
eggs, was soon disposed of and we
climbed into the howdah. strapped to
our elephant. and started for the vii
lage. Here all was eXcitemen when
we arrived. The headmap had al
ready mustered all available hands Tol
heaters. Tom-tomS, tin cans, and
short cudgels formed their armament,
and it was motley crew that marched
out of the village that morning.
As we walked silently along the
jungle path, for we had left the ele.
phant ut the edge of the forest. getting
more and more wet every step from
the dewdrops we shook from the tall
grass and oycrhanging boughs. the
whole line was suddenly brought to a
standStill.
then followed the doctor. The latter
was the cause of the halt. As the
major and myself pushed to the front
we saw him cautiously pointing to &
tree above him with one hand. while
the other was stretched out for his
shotgun.
What the deuce is it?' asked the
major.
Don't YOU see it?n answered til,
doctor, exctedly. Where's that foo
with my guu?'
"Do YOU mean that Internal little
bird?" questioned the major.
My dear major. that's one of the
rarest of iinches. Where's my gun?'
continued the doctor in Hindostanee
For the moment we were SpeecheSS.
but the sight of the half-frightene &c
servant coming up with the gun loos
ened ut least the majors tongue Ii,
seized the Gun himself. and turning to
the doctor said: do YOU mean to
say YOU are thinking of shooting that
bird?n
''Of course | am" answered the as
tonishcd doctor.
And give the tiger notice of our APP
proach? I've good mind to shoot
you first" angrily retorted the major.
BY Jove. | forgot all about the
tiger"
There was no doubt he had.
As we entered the open space signs
were not wanting that the bullock had
been killed, for sitting on the boughs
of trees were vulturcs, while others
were circling above in the air. As
we came in sight Of the carcass two
jackals were seen running for the
shelter Of the ncighboring jungle. while
some of the carriOn were gorging them
selves on the corpse. The tiger had
made meal Of the headquarters and
we could easily trace its spoor down
toward the nullah. or water course.
The doctor. who had won first
choice of stations, determined to take
mp his position in the fork of tree
that commanded the open patch aud
also Il short stretch of the nulIah. The
major aud myself had to make de-
tour TO take up our posts lower down
the water course. as in all liability
stripes" would conclude to cross it
and seek for shelter in the dense Jungle
beyond
Half m hour saw us in position. The
major cnScouced himself behind a rock
with capital view of the now nearly
dry river bed and Il friendly tree in
his rear, while | commanded a long
stretch OF the same, which just at the
foot of the rock on which | Law took a
sharp turn TO the left. | also had a
partial view of the patch that the doc
tor was supposed to guard Word was
sent TO the heaters, and |, at least,
waited anNiously for coming events.
1t was not long before the silence of
the jungle was broken by the noise of
the villagers.
lhcic dlt icN tuiueN HlOit exciting
than waiting to get Your first sight Of
tiger. Despite the knowledge that
one must keep cool, the nerve got the
upper hand. and it seemed us though
the holding of the rifle steady had be-
come an impoSsibilitv.
Now and again the long grass that
bordered the nuliah stirred, as some
deer, hog or jackal, fearful of the din,
would dash across the yellow stream
and vanish in the jungle that stretched
for miles behind me-
| was peering into the thick under
growth when suddenly Ali touched
me and whispered, "Bagh, baghr'
(tiger. tiger) pointing toward the plot.
Yes, standing out in the open, with
its head turned in the direction of the
din and hubbub, augrily twitching lis
tail. stood magnificent tiger. For
some seconds-they seemed an hour
that tiger stood there some 200 wards
m. 81 4