The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-04-08

ploaCuluS tIoiIy.
For moment I was deprived of all
power of action, and in that brief inter-
val the trolly, which was moving at a
rapid pace, was almost upon the savage
family.
The tigress rose and walked leisurely
off the track, followed by one of her
cubs, almost in front of the iron wheels.
The other youpgster was not quick
enough, and the wheels rolled over the
little brute's tail.
The sharp yowl of agony that followed
made my hair fairly stand on end. I was
past the spot by this time, and glancing
round saw the enraged father of the
family bounding over the ties in pursuit.
My revolver had slipped from my hand a
moment before, and as leaned down to
reach my rifle, I lost my balance and
stumbled forward on the narrow step,
very nearly rolling out on the track. The
tiger was coming closer, roaring at every
step.
A sudden idea flashed into my mind,
and without an instants hesitation crept
under the seat, and crouched in the rack
close beside the whirring wheels, which
were now moving faster than ever, for
the trolly had reached the commence
ment of the long slope and was gaining
speed with every second.
From under the seat I had brief
glimpse of the brute's striped hide, and
then the whole trolly shook as though
about to leap from the track. I knew
instantly what had occurred. The tiger
had gained possession of the seat and all
that separated us was that frail plank
overhead.
AS the troily swept on down the slope
at dizzy speed the brute growled feroci.
ously, and thrust great paw into the
rack from one side while his tail dangled
from the other.
1 had to snuggle together pretty closely
to get out of reach, and when turned
the rife round toward the front of the
trolly I realized what fix I was in.
The brute was as secure from my fire
as though he were miles away in the jun
gle. I could point the muzzle of the
rife down the track-and that was oil.
By and by, when the trolly reached the
end of the slope, and its momentum was
spent on the level stretch that lay beyond
it would come to a standstlll and the
maddened tiger would speedily maize an
end of me.
These pleasant reflections were sud-
denly interrupted by another vicious dig
from my unwelcome fellow passenger,
and this time the sharp claws actually
caught my sleeve, and had I not jerked
it quickly loose, I might have been drag
ged out on the track.
I crept to the extreme edge of the rack
until my head was almost pressing
against the wheels-and parried the
brute's blows with the rife barrel.
1 could easily have put a rifle ball
through his foreleg, but I did not care
to his ferocity to any greater degree.
He was quite savage enough already.
Meanwhile the trolly was spinning
down the slope at the rate Of half mile
per minute, and the level stretch that I
Justly dreaded was close at hand.
Glancing down the long, shining ex-
panse of track, saw in the distance the
slight curve that marked the com mence-
ment of the level. My attention was
diverted at this moment by roar frcm
the tiger, and when looked again I
was right at the curve.
The trolly swept round the angle with
a jerk that scraped my hegd against the
wheels, and then saw, only yard or
two head, o big tree lying PROSTATE
across the track.
Instantly there came tremendous
crash, the trolly went right up into the
air like balloon, and the next thing I
knew was tangled up in clump of
Jungle grass with my face iammed an
inch deep into the mire.
1 rose unsteadily aud shook myself.
No bones were broker thankfully dis
covered, and I was in the act of looking
round for the tiger when savage yell
broke on my ear, and I was Mortified to
see half dozen fierce-looking Jungle
men advancing Oh me with spears and
bows.
I believed my last moment had come,
for was totally unarmed, and knew
my savage foes would show no mercy.
1t was no doubt they who had placed tho
tree on the track.
But help was to come from an unex-
pected quarter.
Out of clump of bushes by the side
of the track sprang my late fellow pass
enger, apparently none the worse for the
collision. He landed with savage roar
right in the midst of the juuglemen.
I heard their cries of fright and agony,
and, without waiting to see the outcome
of the fray, 1 took advantage of the
diversion to bolt into the forest.
I ran on for half an hour, expecting
every moment to hear the sounds of pur-
suit, but, as all continued quiet, I
ventured to take to the track, and trot-
ted briskly over the ties toward Wadi.
Two hours later, when was ready to
drop from fatigue, a whistle echoed
through the jungle: aud presently small
engine with passenger car attached
rounded the bend ahead.
On board were Captain Kennedy and
a company of native troops. They had
left Wadi that morning as soon as the
cutting of the telegraph wires was dis
covered.
They took me on board. and we were
soon at the scene of my late accident.
The trolly, smashed beyond repair, was
lying near the track, and close by it was