The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-11-20

ton TO the distant nuttcring OF birds.
1t was a curious sort Of circus that tins
birds were having The little things
circled about in the tops of the trees
and screamed shrilly one TO tho other.
u might have been huge snake that
frightened and fascinated them, or II
might have been tiger. Manuel
knew, in all probability, but he made
no sign.
The disturbance came a little nearer,
but it seemed 10 me that il moved very
slowly. If a tiger were coming along
the path hc should, in my opinion, have
made better time. / calmcd my impa-
ticncc by assuring myself that if it
were q tiger he would come fast enough
when he once got wind Of me. 1t was
a long lalf hour of suspense before the
dis urbancc came within reasonable
distance. Before half of that time had
passed | was satisfied that something
very object iona bic to birds was walk
ing lcisurcly along the path, and per-
haps stopping now and then in the
hope Of surprising one Of the birds un-
awarcs-
At length the thin was just beyond
the turn in the path. "a a moment or
two 1 should see what il was. Then ]
became conscious that Manuel was
with ms short spear held in a horizontal
position over his shoulder. This was
interesting and at the same time very
suggestive / 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. He had
seen something in the path before him.
II was Manuel, who was standing as
immovablc as the rock beside him. 1t
was a beautiful beast all silk and soft
ness and graceful curves. ! thought il
"A pity that so beautiful a thing should
be hunted 10 the death, but at the same
time ] reflected that tins wonderfully
beautiful exterior covered nature that
was the living incarnation OF ferocity.
I do not know how long Manuel and
the tiger faced each other there in the
narrow path like gladiators 1t seemed
a very long time. This was the test.
The tiger waited instinctively to see the
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, ana when
he had made up his mind that this
thing was not going t. run he came
forward slowly TO investigate. This
was courage, even III ii Wild brute, anG
| aH inn ffr.if / do n lafa
lion or the tiger Of India has this un-
shal<able nerve.
looked at Manuel rs the tiger came
slowly and cautiously along the path.
lie stood like a bronze statue, with ms
spear held over his right shoulder. Not
so much rs an eyelid moved. / confess
that during this rying time | was Dit
nervous. This was 4 new way OF
hunting 10 me, and a decided novelty
in the actions OF d wild beast W hich
had not been attacked. ! should eN-
pect an attack from grizzly bear after
il had been wounded, but assuredly the
bear would not take the aggressive a.
this 1.-the and beautiful beast was do
ing. l 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 the
hunter.
At length the tiger was within touch
ing distance Of the man. lie looked
the bronze figure over from head TO foot
and then thrust forward his head and
shifted at the mans feet. Back the
great beast sprang like "A steel spring.
The figure ~vas flesh and blood.
The tigers tail twitcheI back ana
forth like fail. The great jaws opened
in a snarl. Quickly the beast measured
his distance and crouched with culver
ing sinews Tor "a spring. Such calm
courage was grand beyond all descrip-
tion. 1t was matched only by the
steadfast nerve of the man.
Now came the crisis / could see the
huge muscles hcaving under the striped
skin. In another second the tiger
would leap upon his prey. In that in
slant the hunter made a motion with
his left arm as quick as light itself lie
tore handkerchief from his neck and
thrust it full in the tigers face Up
went the tigers head in a culver of
electrical amazement. Then the hun
ter's poised right arm shot forward
with incredible force and the spear
buried itself half way to the handle in
the tigers neck.
All, IL was nobly done; and through
out il all, from the beginning until the
wonderful ending. the hunte rs nerve
never faltered 50 much 5 by a hairs
breadth Before l could.catch my breath
and swallow the lumps 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 Il faint
suggestion of a smile about his i'm
passive face.
Does the Senor Americana believe?~
he asked.
lie does, ! answered, and reached
him my hand in that universal brother.
hood OF man which civilization can
never efface. BY the side of that dead
tiger the savage aud the son Of civiliza-
tion were on the one common level of
man. There could be no difference
y. y. Recorder.
He Wanted to Know.
Excuse me-" said Mr.. J. Hav Seed
10 the stranger who had so cordially
shaken hands with him: excuse my
sfgl~ ~