St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-10-16
MY FIRST TIGER.

man of a neighboring village wished
to speak with us. With him were
some of the villagers, who came as a
deputation, praying us to rid them
of tiger that was playing sad havoc
with their cattle. The proposition
was jumped at, and with Ali and
two of his assistants | returned to
the village with the head man. 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, and 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 some of his pre-
vious experiences with tigers. The
Doctor had beer on many a tiger
hunt, but had never bagged one of
the royal quarry. The fact of the
matter was he was mad on ornith-
ology, and he confessed that on more
than one occasion he had been
watching some rare specimen of the
feathered tribe, and lost the golden
opportunity for a good shot.
We turned in early, and 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
the bushes the fre-hies 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 astir, and with it
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 solitary elephant,
and started for the village. Here
all was excitement when we arrived.
The headman had already mustered
all available hands for beaters.
TOm-toms, tin cans, and short cudgels
formed their armament, and it was
a motley crew that marched out of
the village that morning.
AS we walked silently along the
Jungle path, for we had left the ele-
plant at the edge of the forest, get
ting more and more wet every step
from the dew-drops we shook from
the tall grass or overhanglng boughs,
the whole line was suddenly brought
to a Standstill.
In front was the village shikarri,
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 point
ing to a 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 ?' answered the
Doctor, excitedly. "Where's that
fool with my gun ?"
DO YOU mean that Internal little
bird ?" questioned the Major.
My dear Major, that's one of the
rarest finches Where's my gun ?''
continued the Doctor, in Hindostanee.
l'Ol lHO liOAl wv WIZ
speechless, but the sight of the half
frightened servant coming up with
the gun lOOsened at least the Majors
tongue He seized the gun himself,
and turning to the Doctor, said, ''Do
you mean to say you are thinking of
shooting that bird ?"
"Of course | am" answered the
astonished Doctor.
And give the tiger notice of our
approach? I've q hanged good
mind to shoot you first" an2rily re-
torted 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 vultures,
while others were circling above in
the air AS we came in sight of the
carcass two jackals were seen rum
ming for the shelter of the neighbour
ing jungle, while some of the carrion
were gorging themselves on the
corpse The tiger had made a 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
up his position in the fork of a tree
that commanded the open patch,
and also a short stretch of the nullah.
The Major and myself had to make
detOur to take up our posts lower
down the water-course, as in all
probability ''stripes" would conclude
to cross it, and seek for shelter in the
dense jungle beyond.
Half an hour saw us in position.
The Major ensconced himself behind
a rock, with a capital view of the
now nearly dry river-bed, and
friendly tree in his rear; while l COM
manded long stretch of the same,
which just at the foot of the rock on
left | also had a partial view of the
patch that the Doctor was supposed
to guard. Word was sent to the
beaters, and l at least waited anx
iously for coming events.
1t was not long before the silence
of the jungle was broken by the noise
of the villagers.
There are few things more exciting
than waiting to get your first sight
OF a tiger. Despite the knowledge
that one must keep cool, the nerves
got the upper hand, and it seemed as
though the holding of the rifle had
become an impossibility.
Now and again the long grass that
bordered the nullah stirred, as some
deer, hog, or jackal, fearful of the
din, would dash across the shallow
stream, and vanish in the jungle
that stretched for miles behind me.
| was peering into the thick under
I, c...dIn.,l,- Al. +n.-ol,,I