Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-05-15

"6Sii S""'"S otiaiSnI at INC ap-
proaching trolly.
For moment I was deprived of all
power of action, and in that brief inter
val the trolly, which was moving ut a
rapid pace, was almost upon the savage
family.
The tigress rose and walked leisurely
off thc.track, followed by ono of her
cubs, almost in front of the iron wheels.
The other youugster was not quick
enough, and the wheels rolled over tho
little brutc's tail.
The sharp yowl of agony that followed
made my hair fairly stand on end. 1 was
past the spot by this time, and glancing
round l saw the enragcd father of the
family bounding over the ties in pursuit.
My revolver had slipped from my hand
moment before, and us 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 hesitation crept
under the seat, and crouchcd in the rack
close beside the whirring wheels, which
were now moving faster than ever, for
tho .trolly had reached the commence
mcnt of the long slope and was cunning
speed with every second.
From under the seat 1 had brief
glimpse of the brutc's striped hide, and
then the whole troly shook us though
about to leap from the track. 1 knew
instantly what had occurred. The tiger
had gained possession of the scat and all
that separated us was that frail plank
overhead.
AS the trolly swept on down the slope
at dizzy speed the brute srowlcd fcroci-
ously, and thrust II great paw into the
rack from one side while his tail dangled
from the other
| had to snugg!c together pretty closely
to get out of reach, and when turned
the rifle round toward the front of the
trolly realized what fix | was in.
The brute was rs secure from my fire
us though lie were miles away in the jun-
gle. 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 its momentum was
spent on the level stretch that lay beyond
it would come to n standstil and tho
tiger would speedily make au
end of me-
These Pleasant reflections were sud-
denly interrupted by another vicious dig
from my unwclcome fellow passenger,
and this time the sharp claws actually
caught my sleeve, and had not jerkcd
it quickly loose, might have been drag
ycd out on the track.
crept to the extreme edge of the rack
until my hcnd was almost pressing
against the whcels-and parted the
Drute's blows with the rifle barrel.
could easily have put a rifle ball
Trough his forcleg, but did not care
o his fcrocity to any greater degree.
lie was quite savage enough already.
Meanwhile the trolly was spinning
Town the slope at the rate of half milo
scr minute, and the level stretch that |
Justly dreaded was close Mt hand.
CHANGING down the long, shining cx-
,ansc of track, l saw in the distance tho
light curve that marked the commence
nent of the level. My attention was
Inverted mt this moment by roar frcm
he tiger, and when l looked again 1
vas right Mt the curve.
The trolly swept round the angle with
jerk that scrapcd my hegd against the
wheels, and then saw, only yard or
wo head, big tree lying prostitute
!cross the track.
Instantly there came tremendous
rash, the trolly went right up into the
Iir like balloon, and the next thing l
Knew was tangled up in clump of
UNCLE grass with my face jammcd an
nch deep into the mire
l rose unsteadily ana shook myself.
No bones were broken, thankfully dis
covered, and l was in the act of looking
'ound for the tiger when savage yell
broke on my ear, and I was Mortified to
see half dozen fierce-looking Jungle
men advancing oD me with spears and
bows.
I believed my last moment had come,
for was totally unarmed, and I knew
my savage foes would show no mercy.
1t was no doubt they who had placed tho
tree on the track.
But help was to come from an unex-
pcctcd quarter.
Out of clump of bushes by the side
of the track sprang my late fellow pass
enger, apparently none the worse for the
collision. lie landed with savage roar
right in the midst of the junglemen.
l heard their cries of fright and agony,
and, without waiting to see the outcome
of the fray, l took advantage of the
diversion to bolt into the forest.
l ran on for half an hour, expecting
every moment to hear the sounds of pur-
suit, but, as all continued qniet,
yentured to take to the track, and trot-
ted brsllly over the ties toward Iyadi.
Two hours later, when was ready to
drop from fatigue, whistle echoed
through the jungle; and presently small
engine with passenger cur attached
rounded the bend ahead.
On board were Captain Kennedy and
a company of native troops. They had
left Wad that morning as soon as the
cutting of the telegraph wires was dis
covered.
They took me on board, and we were