Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-09-18
The AMIR'S TIGERS.
Dy CLARENCE puLLEN.


a certain September evening, years
ago, found Gordon Trautwiuc in India.
III the province of Sindh and the city of
Ilaidcrabad. This young electrician, in
the employ OF the lndo European Tcle
graph Department, had arrived by boat
from ku:rachee two days before.
Learning that it would be week be.
fore he could get up the river, he had
taken quarters ut the house of resident
who often entertained European visitors.
Inns bungalow, near the river side, was
large, rambling cdiiicc of one story,
with the usual extensive verandas. wide
doors aud windows. Although situated
in the heart of the city, its grounds were
OF considerable extent.
Gordon rs the latest guest was as
signed to detached building, separated
by wall from the rest of the establish
ment. This structure, which had once
been used for the storage of merchandise,
ironted upon large compound or yard
surrounded on three sides by Il HIGH
stone and mud wall, the building form.
ing the fourth side. The street passing
the front wall was considerably higher
than the level of the yard. The one
room was high and spacious, and the
large windows at the back, overlooking
the river. were protected by strong iron
gratinSs, which admitted the cool breeze
from the water. The single entrance to
the building was in front.
10 reach the main house Gordon had
10 go into the compound aud pass
through low doorway in the dividing
inc between it and the gardens. In his
own yard was kept the buffalo COW
winch supplied the milk used by the
household.
On his second night at the bungalow
Gordon had sat in the main building.
ono oil company agreeably entertained
ny mislc and cards until near midnight
AZ last, the goodnights having been said,
he passed into the open air and went to
ms room to so to bed. His native lamp
was little open vessel in which cotton
WICK hoated in cocoaDut oil; this he ex
,hguished, and, clad in his pajamas,
owed between the mosquito curtains and
composed himself to sleep.
Some people who were in Haiberabad
a quarter OF century ago will remember
Amir Talphur's two great tigers. can
lnrea In the Sakkar jungles, and kept In
captivity at his palace. Such persons
VIII DC likely to recall the night when
Do'h these savage beasts escaped and set
the town in an uproar. Their cages
were found empty with broken bars, and
the mangled body of a native watchmau
lying In a by-street indicated the route
they had taken. This episode occurred
on the night of which | write.
Gordon he'd slept perhaps two hours
when he was awakened by the move
ments OF the buffalo in the yard, which
was believing MS if in distress. He was
not yet fully aroused when the buifalo's
NOISE was swelled by sound which
probably had not been heard in Haidera-
bad since the days before the Grand Mo-
gnls, the roar of tiger ut large. There
was scratching of claws on the street
wal, the sound of body striking heav.
NY Dut softly il to the yard, one loud bel
low from the buffalo, followed by another
ending in stifed sound, and then there
was heard only low, deep growls, min
sied with the sound of tearing flesh.
Gordon had started up INTO sitting
posture at the first alarm, and up to this
point had remained in that position listen
ing, with suspended breath. Now he
slipped from bed, and going to the open
window looked out between the stats of
the blinds. The clear moon bcams shone
into the yard, Lighting every part of it
except the black shadows beneath the
walls. Fronting him, near the middle
OF the compound, was the white breast
OF an immense black aud tawny animal,
which stood over the postratc buffalo
tearing its throat and greedily tapping
its blood. The beast of prey raised its
head from time to time, and glared about
with eyes of fire as if watching against
interruption.
line situation was surprising and ter
rifying one for Gordon, who could not
escape by the windows at the back of
the house owing to the iron gratinqs.
There was no way out of the compound
except TO emerge upon the veranda, and
walk distance of ten yards in the very
lace OF the tiger-for Gordon had Mt
once recognized the nature of his terrible
visitor. lie stepped back and lit the