Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-05-08

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attendants making of as fast as their
two legs could carry them.
The trolly had just rounded small
bend. aud looking ahead was con
frouted by spectacle that made my
blood run cold
Barely twelve yards distant, in the
very center Of the track, lay a tigres'
fondling two cubs, and by her side
stood huge tiger, gazing straight at
the approaching trolly.
For moment | was deprived OF all
power of action, and in that brief in
terval the trolly, which was moving
at a rapid pace, was almost upon the
savage family.
The tigress rose and walked leis-
urelv off the track. followed by one OF
her cubs, almost in front OF the iron
wheels.
The other youngster was not quick
enough. and the wheels rolled over
the little brute's tail
The sharp yowl of agony that fol
lowed made my hair fairly stand on
end. | was past the spot by this
time, and glancimg round | saw the
enraged father of the family bound
ing over the ties in pursuit. My re
volver had slipped from my hand a
moment before, and as | leaned
down to reach my rifle, | 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 instant's hest
tation | crept under the seat, aud
crouched in the rack close beside the
whirring wheels, which were now
moving faster than ever, for the troll
" had reached the commencement
OF the long slope and was gaining
speed with every second.
From under the seat | had IA brief
glimpse Of the brute's striped hide.
and then the whole trolly shook as
/ though about TO leap from the track.
| 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 trolly swept on down the
slope at dizzy speed the brute growled
ferociously. and thrust great paw
/ into the rack from one side while his
tail dangled from the other.
| had to snuggle together pretty
closely to get out of reach, and when
| | turned the rifle round toward the
trolly | realized what fix was IN.
/ The brute was as secure from my
/ fire as though he were miles away III
the Jungle. ! could point the muzzle
Of the rifle down the track-and that
was all. By.and by, when the trolly
reached the end of the slope, and It's
momentum was spent on the level
stretch that lay beyond it would come
to standstill and the maddened tiger
would speedily make an end of me.
These pleasant reflections were sud
denly interrupted by another vicious
dig from my unwelcome fellow pas
senger, and this time the sharp claws
actually caught my sleeve, and had /
not jerked it quickly loose, might
have been dragged out on the track.
/ crept to the extreme edge OF the
rack-until my head was almost press
/ ing against the wheels-and parried
/ the brute's blows with the rifle bar
rel.
/ | could easily have put II rifle ball
through his foreleg, but | did not care
to arouse 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 a
mile per minute, and the level stretch
that 1 justly dreaded was close at
/ hand.
Glancing down the long, shining
expanse OF track, | saw in the dis
tance the slight curve that marked
/ the commencement Of the level. My
attention was diverted at this mo
ment by roar from the tiger, and
when looked again | was right at
| the curve.
The trolIy swept round the angle
with jerk that scraped my head
/ against the wheels. and then | saw,
only a yard or two ahead, big tree
living PROSTATE across the track.
/ Instantly there came a tremendous
crash, the trolly went right up into
the air like a balloon, and the next
thing knew was tangled up in II
/ clump Of jungle grass with my face
jammed an inch deep into the mire.
/ | rose unsteadily and shook my
self. No bones were broken, thank
I fully discovered, and | was in the act
Of looking round for the tiger when a
savage yell broke on my ear, and /
was Mortified 70 see half a dozen
fierce-looking junglemen advancing
on lie with spears and bows.
| believed my last moment had
come, for / was totally unarmed, and
| knew my savage foes would show
no mercy. 1t was 10 doubt they who
had placed the tree on the track.
But help was TO come from al un-
expected quarter.
Out Of a clump Of bushes by the
side Of the track sprang my late fel-
low passenger, apparently none the
worse for the collision. He landed