Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-07-31

crouch with swinging tails at the sigh;
of the young mans figure outlined black
against the fire, and crept toward him,
only to turn away and retire before some
fresh outburst of the flames.
The heat on the veranda had become
uncomfortable, aud Gordon saw that, live
or die, he must, as his only chance OF
escape, try to get through the door of
of the wall; to reach this spot he must
pass within a dozen yards OF the tigers
This small door. which was strongly
made, opened into the compound, anu
swung toward the front wall where the
beasts were pacing. 1t was iastened'
when shut, by strong latch.
To effect his escape Gordon had to
take ten long steps, unlatch and open
the door, pass through the opening and
close the door behind him before either
one of his savage besiegers could leap
upon him. With the flames already
scorching him he decided that quic&
death by teeth and claws was better than
to be burned alive. At moment when
the nearest tigers back was turned nc
walked rapidly but steadily across the
corner of the compound, lifted the latch,
opened the door, and stopped to pass
through.
At his first step from the veranda the
tiger nearest him wheeled, and both
the animals began to work toward him.
But to attack him they must dash to-
ward the fire that awed them, and while
they crept onward, growing and eyeins
him, neither of them sprang until he
had reached and opened the door. Then
the nearest tiger, moved partly perhaps
by hope OF escape through the open
ing, leaped for it. The creatures paws
struck the door just as Gordon was pass
ing the threshold, shutting it against
him with such force as to throw the
young man violently upoa his face into
the garden beyond.
Had the door swung ajar after closing,
the beast would at once have been after
and Upon him; but the latch caught and
held, and Gordon turning round as he
regained his feet heard the scratching
male by the tigers claws, and the ami
mails whining snarl over his discom-
future as it retired to the farther end OF
the compound.
Gordons appearance in the garden
was loudly hailed by the people IN the
main house who having been wakened
by the tumult had gathered in one apart
ment, and barricaded the windows aud
doors; and the men with such weapons
as they could obtain were standing ready
to defend the premises. Believing that
Gordon was surely killed, they were sur
prised and delighted to see him emerge
so unexpectedly from his perilo1' sltna'
ton. The people Of the neighborln3
houses were equally awake, and on learn
inc the facts in the situation the more
courageous ones approached AMI locke
down upon the self-entrapPed animals
restlessly moving about between the high
walls and the fire.
Some soldiers that arrived from the
British garrison, and force OF the
Amirs retainers, including the chief
huntsman and his assistants, now set to
work to capture the tigers. The natives
worked zeaIously from the certainty that
if the tigers were not recaptured--2er-
haps even if they were-that some per-
sons would loose their heads on general
principles of disapproval Of the animals
escape.
From the wall coir rope nooses were
launched at the now thoroughly de-
moralized ami nails, which, after various
misthrows and mishaps, were caught sue
cessigely by the neck, legs and body,
until they were at least so well secured
that one or two bold fellows leaped down
into the compound, and flushed the
tying Of them in safety. Rolled, tied,
and twisted in a network Of ropes, the
two struggling brutes, slunS to long
poles, we're borne on the shoulders Of
natives to the Amir's palace and returned
to their cages, which it is to be hoped,
were suitably strengthened.
1t was only after the event that Cor
don Trautwine, who had behaved so
coolly through bis time of peril, realized
how badly frightened he really had
been. He left Haiderabad the next day
to brace his nerves by the adventures
and excitement Of trip up the Indus
River.-St. Louis Republic.
A Wonderful Press.