St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-09-26
afraid o. The disturbance ceased
after time and then tho mountain a.

SSA43
Looking down over the rock . few
moments later found Manuel gazing
up At me. He pointed away of to the
left in the direction of the second dis.
turbancc and again DISAPPEARED. II i,
probable that on this occasion he hid
himself in the undergrowth alongside
the path. gave my undivided atteu
tion to the distant auttering of birds
1t was . curious sort Of circus that tho
birds were having. The little things
circled about in the tops of the trees
and screamed shrilly one to the other.
II might have been . huge snake that
frightened and fascinated them, or it
might have been . tiger. Manuel
knew, in all probability. but he made
no sign.
The disturbance came q little nearor,
but it seemed to me that it moved very
slowly. If a tiger were coming along
the path he should, in my opinion have
made better time. calmed Izy impa-
ticncc by assuring myself that 4 il
were q tiger he would como fast enough
when he once got wind of me. 1t was
long half hour of suspense before the
disturbance came within reasonable
distance. Before half of that time had
passed l WIS satisfied that something
very Objectionable to birds was walk
ing lcisurely along the path, and per
haps stopping now and then in tho
hope of surprising ono Of the birds un.
awarcS.
At length the thin 6 was just beyond
the turn in the path In q moment %
two l should see what it was. Then
became conscious that Manuel was
standing in the middle of the path,
with his short spear held in horizontal
position over his shoulder. This was
interesting and at the same time very
suggestive l concentrated my entire
nervous system in an intense contem.
platiOn of the turn in the path. The
suspense was awful.
All! what was that? A striped and
spotted animal suddenly stood out in
the open. His long tail swung slowly
from side to side, and his smooth coat
moved nervously with some passing
emotion. 1t was the tiger of the South
American forests. He had topped with
one foot advanced, and with his head
in the attitude of attention. lie had
seen something in the path before him.
1t was Manuel, who was standing as
immovable As the rock beside him. 1t
was beautiful beast all silk and soft
ness and graceful curves. thought il
pity that SO beautiful q thing should
be hunted to the death. but at the same
time l reflected that this wonderfully
beautiful exterior covered . nature that
was the living incarnation Of fcrocity.
do not know how long Manuel and
the tiger faced each other there in the
narrow path like gladiators. 1t seemed
very long time. This was the test
The tiger waited instinctively to see tho
strange thing before him turn and run
away as everything else in the forest
invariably did. but greatly to his sur
prise the thing stood its 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 . wild brute, and
I respected him for it. doubt if the
lion or the tiger of India has this un-
shakablc nerve.
Hooked at Manuel as the tiger came
slowly and cautiously along the path.
He stood like q bronze statue, with his
spear held over his right shoulder. Not
SO much as an cyelid moved l confess
that during this trying time was . bit
nervous. This was . new way OF
hunting to me, and a decided novelty
in the actions of o wild beast which
had not been attacked l should cx-
pcct an attack from grizzly bear after
it had been wounded, but assuredly the
bear would not take the aggressive a.
this 1.-the and beautiful beast was do
ing. I will acknowledge that my heart
thumped against my blue flannel shirt
SO hard that was afraid that the noise
would attract the attention Of the
tiger.
Slowly came the tiger; like . rock
stood Manuel 1t looked as though tho
case had been reversed, and that the
tiger instead of the half breed, was tho
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 tho mans feet Back tho
great beast sprang like q steel spring.
The figure was flesh and blood
The tigers tail twitched back and
forth like q flail. The great jaws opened
in q snarl. Quickly the beast measured
his distance and crouched with Quiver.
ing sinews for . spring. Such calm
courage was grand beyond al descriT-
tion. It was matched only BY tie
steadfast nerve of the man.
Now came the crisis. could see ths
huge muscles hcaving under the striped
skin. In another second the tiger
would leap upon his prey. In that in
slant the hunter made o motion with
his left arm as quick rs light ITSELF lie
tore handkerchief from his neck and
thrust it full in the tigers face Up
went the tigers head in . quivcr Of
electrical amusement Then the hum
tcr's 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 it all. from the beginning until tho
wonderful ending. the hunte RS nerve
never faltered 50 much as by . hairs
breadth. Before I could.catch my breath
and swallow 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.
Manuel picked up his handkerchief and
pulled out his spear. There was faint