Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-09-28
NAN AGA1xsr TIGER.
The Thrilling Struggle OF Nervy Hall
Breed with n FerOcious Maneatsr.

The Thrilling Struggle OF Nervy Half
Breed with FerOcious Maneatsr.
Ii was in the State of Mirandeo, New
Venezuela. Ii was in the morning and /
was with Manuel, the tiger hunter, on
the mountain.
do not know how long Manuel and
the tiger faced each other there in the
narrow path like gladiators. 1t seemed a
long time. This was the test. The tiger
waited instinctively to see the strange
thing before him turn and run away as
everything else in the forest invariably
did, but greatly to his surprise the thing
stood it's ground like an immovable rock.
The tiger was king Of the forest, and he
knew it, and when he had made up his
mind that this thing was not going to run,
he came forward slowly TO investigate.
This was courage, even In q wild brute,
and respected him for it. l doubt if
the lion or the tiger of India has this un-
shakable nerve.
looked at Manuel as the tiger came
slowly and cautiously along the path. He
stood like bronze statue, with his spear
held over his shoulder. Not so much as
an eyelid moved. confess that during
this trying time / was a bit nervous.
This was a new way of hunting to me,
and decided novelty in the actions of
wild beast which had not been at
tackled. should expect an attack from
grizzly bear after it had been wounded,
but, assuredly, the bear would not take
the aggressive, as this 1.-the and beautiful
beast was doing. will acknowledge
that my heart thumped against my blue
flannel shirt so hard that was afraid the
noise would attract the attention of the
tiger.
Slowly came the tiger, like a rock
stood Manuel. 1t looked as though the
case had been reversed, and that the
tiger. instead of the half breed, was the
hunter.
At length the tiger was within touch
ing distance of the man. He looked the
bronze figure over from head to foot, and
then thrust forward his head and shifted
at the mans feet. Back the great beast
sprang like a steel spring. The figure
was flesh and blood.
The tigers tail twitched back and forth
like a fail. The great jaws opened in
snarl Quickly the beast measured his
distance and crouched with quivering
sinews for a spring, Such calm courage
was grand beyond all description. 1t was
matched only by the steadfast nerve of
the man.
Now came tho crisis. / could see the
huge muscles heaying under the striped
skin. In another second the tiger would
leap upon his prey. In that instant the
hunter made motion with his left arm
as quick as light itself. He tore hand
kerchief from his neck aud thrust it full
in the tigers face Up went the tigers
head in quivero of electrical amazement.
Then the hunters poised right arm shot
forward with incredible force, and the
spear buried itself half way TO the handle
In the tigers neck.
All, it was nobly done, and through
out IL all, from the beginning until the
wonderful ending, the hunters nerve
never faltered SO omuch as hairs breadth.
Before could catch my breath and swal.
low the Jumps of apprehension that had
risen unbidden in my throat the fierce
beast was dead in the path.
] scrambled down from the rock and
stood beside the dead forest king. Man
uel picked up his handkerchief and
pulled out his spear There was a faint
suggestion Of smile about his impassive
face.
"Does the Senior Americana believer"
he asked.
He does, " answered, and reached
him my hand in that universal brother
hood of man which civilization can never
efface. BY the side of that dead tiger
the savage and the son of civilization
were on the one common level of man.
There could be no difference. New York
Recorder.