Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1890-04-25
dizzy speed that the tangled foliage Of
the jungle shot past like wavy green

: curtain. e
The brake had given way. The thought
OF jumping off never occurred to me.
hung to the seat in helpless terror, my
gaze fixed with resislless fascination
ON the group of tigers ahead. They
were terribly close now, and closed nv
eyes with shudder as I remembered
what would happen when the trolly
struck that great tawny brute and
bounded into the air
| have very faint recollection of sec.
ing the tigress walk leisnrely off the
track at the last moment. with one cub
following at her heels.
| remember the big tiger, too, crouch
ing in the ditch, with his great red
tongue lolling ont. and then as the
trolly bounced and grated over some
obstacle and my ears were deafened by
most fearful snarling, knew that I
had run over one of the cubs. The Jolt
ing was over in an instant, AMI the
trolly, without leaving the rails. swept
on down the grade at terrible ratio Of
speed. There was one tiger less in the
Madapur Forest knew, Tor gluncing
down at the foot-board saw spattered
drops of blood
All of sudden heard above the
dizzy hum of the wheels most terrific
roar, and turning instantly around l
was startled to see the big tiger bound
ing over the rails in pursuit.
At every jump he roared. and M FIRST
Impression was that he would oyertnke
the trolly in about one minute Re-
membering my revolver, | took it from
my pocket and cooked it. Another
glance made it apparent that the tiger
was not gaining any, and as the trolly
was now on the very steepest part of
the grade felt pretty confident that [
would ultimately leave him behind.
For the next quarter of a mile untu-
ally did gain, and then. as I began 10
draw near the foot of the grade the sit.
uation assumed II very ticklish phase.
for, astonishing to relate, my vindictiyc
pursucr showed no signs Of giving IN
the race He was bounding gracefully
over the ties, thirty or forty yards be-
hind, without the faintest trace Of weari-
ness OF course, if | could keep up
the present rate of speed would be ali
right, but just there was the rub. The
bottom of the grade was close at hand
and then came level track. The mo-
mcntum had gathered would Of course
carry me mile farther. but some here
in the space of that mile would be
overtakcn by the tiger The cold chills
ran over me at the thought.
stole another glance at my pursuer.
Horrors The distance between us had
certainly lessened already. took aim
as well as | could and fred one chamber
OF my revolver. The only effect pro-
duced was dismal roar. | did not try
another shot, for remembered that I
would probably have need Of the re.
naming chambers for uso ut CLOSE QUAR-.
ters. The sensations experienced as
the trolly gradually essened its speed
were horrible For the space OF five
minutes suffered torments actual and
roal as though the brute already had
me 10 his jaws | was bowling over tho
level track now, and the tiger was clos
ing in on the home stretch.
A minute or two more and the rsoe
would be ended, for | knew that nv
revolver was about as useless as pom
gun.
Hardly conscious of what | was do
ing. | turned and emptied the remain
ing chambers at the tiger rs fast as
could pull the trigger. One or more of
the shots must have struck him, for he
stopped short with iendish roar, and
then came on more furously than ever.
| hurled the empty revolver at him
and then settled back on the scat IN
despair. could hear the soft patter
OF the cushioned feet on the ties; tho
hot breath seemed to be scorching my
neck, and then IA gun-shot was fred al
most beside my ear, and az caught brief
glimpse of white helmet and q smok-
ing rife barrel, | tumbled of the troliy
somehow and there lay my late pursner
breat thing his life out across tho rails.
My timely rescuer was not Colonel
Danvors. as | had supposed, but tho
resident engineer from Dacca, who was
spending weeks furlough in the jun
gle My firing had attracted his atten-
ton, aud he had arrived just in time
He accompanied me back to the station
on the trolly, for was completely I'M
nerved. My recreant Hindus, Pershad
and Jung, were promptly dismissed from
the service, and picked out two others,
who stoutly affirmed that they had no
fear whatever Of tigers.
Ever afterward, however, a loaded
rife lay on tho seat beside me, aud
kept sharp watch ahead for tigers on