The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-10-08

W. :; !: s.: s.; $: :: ::
H<STEI kEA GIl6 Tiger uullOSd,
ed at turn in the narrow path, and
felt rather than saw the dawn ofday
was at hand. There was a strange
stir in the air, as though the feeble
breath of life had come back to the
dead and inanimate nature.
Over beyond the eastern mountain
tops the stars were growing pale. The
first gray tlnge OF dawn was coming a
long way off.
Day came slowly. l noted this with
surprise, for l had any number Of
times read descriptions of dawn in the
tropics wherein it was represented
that day came with bound out of
the blackness of the night. Perhaps
the writer's OF these descriptions had
waited until the sun had already red
dened the eastern sky before watch
ing for the dawn. From the time that
noticed the first faint gray streaks
in the sky until the sun was actually
shining on the mountain tops it was
perhaps a little more than an hour.
1have seen the day break in the Rocky
Mountains in the same length of time,
with the only difference that in the
tropics the day came more swiftly
after the rosy lights had come into the
sky. Between the first grays of the
early morning and the rosy hues of
actual day there was little difference
i'll the Cordilleras and the Rocky
Mountains.
could have watched the coming
day for another hour, but as soon as
it was light enough to see surround
ing objects Manuel carefully chose a
spot which could occupy during the
impending gladiatorial exhibition. 1t
was the peak of high rock that al
most overhung the path that he even
tually chose, and with some difficulty
1 climbed to the top of 1t. Nature
evidently had intended the rock
for some such purpose as this,
for it gave good view of the path for
some distance on each side. | could
easily have seen any animal walking
upon it for q considerable distance in
either direction. There was plenty of
evidence, too, that the advantage of
| this peak as a lookout station had
been appreciated and used by other
hunters than man. Indications show
ed that wild beasts presumably tigers,
had crouched here in wait for unsus-
pecting prey. This discovery gave me
a mild sensation. might be reason
ably safe from the attack of a tiger in
the path below, but | hesitated to
think what would be the result if a
tiger came up and found me oc-
cupying his private personal outlook.
When I was comfortably concealed
behind the rock, although in posi-
ton to keep careful watch of the ex-
posed parts of the path Manuel dis
appeared. He was standing by the
base of the rock one moment and
the next moment he had
vanished. He must have gone like a
serpent, for heard no sound. Then
was alone on o tigers favorite re-
sort in an unhaunted South American
forest. 1t was hardly a pleasant sensa-
ton, especially as my revolver SEEM
ed to be, as doubtless it was, very
inadequate weapon. A suspicion
might have crossed my mind that
Manuel had left me there as bait for
atiger, but would not give it NOM
ent's credence.
There were noises on the mountain
side by this time, and some of them
were so distinct that l could distin-
quish them. Small animals were
scampering about in the underground
and birds were calling in the trees. A
commotion among the birds some dis
tance down the path attracted my
attention, and l wondered if a tiger
had stirred them up, or if Manuel had
strayed as far away as that. A few
moments later there was another
commotion in the distance on the
other hand of me, but | gave little
heed to it. On the right hand side OF
the path a small creature, something
like a North American woodchuck
stopped short in his leisurely morning
walk and shifted suspiciously at the
air. l was to leeward of him in the
light breeze that had sprung up, and
SO he could not have scented me. He
shifted moment in the direction o.
the first disturbance, and then sudden
| ly dived headlong into the under
growth. Assuredly there was something
off to windward that he was afraid of
The disturbance ceased after q time
and then the mountain side was still
again.
Looking down over the rock a few
moments later found Manuel gazing
up at me. He pointed away off tC
the left, in the direction of the second
disturbance, and again disappeared
1t is probable that on this occasion
he hid himself in the underground
alongside the path. / gave my un
divided attention to the distant
futtering of birds. 1t was curious
sort OF circus that the birds were hav
ing. The little things circled about il
the tops of the trees and screamed
shrilly one to the other. 1t Nigh
have been q huge snake that brighten
ed and fascinated them, or it nigh
7 have been a tiger. Manuel knew, il
all probability, but he made no sign
The disturbance came little near
er but it seemed to me that it moved
very slowly. II q tiger were comm
along the path he should, in m,
opinion, have made better time.
Gained my impatience by assurln
myself that if it were tiger he woul,
come fast enough when he once go
! wind of me. 1t was long half-hou
of suspense before the disturbanc
came within reasonable distance
Before half OF that time had passed