Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-26

again. 80 s'i''
Looking down over the rock q few
moments later found Manuel gazing
up at me. lie pointed away off to
the lett, IN the direction Of tile second
disturbance, and again disappeared
IL y probable that on this occasion
he hid himself in the underground
alongside the path. | gave INV nm
divided attention to the distant
ilnttering OF birds. IL was d. curious
sort OF circus that the birds were hay
ing The little things circled about in
the tops OF the trees and screamed
shrllly one to the other. Ii might
nave been a huge snake that brighten.
ca and fascinated them, or il MIGHT
have been n tiger. Manuel knew. in
all probability, but he made no sign.
The disturbance came little near
er but II seemed TO me that il moved
very slowly. II tiger were coming
along the path lie should. In nv
opinion, have made better time. I
Gained my Impotence by assuring
myself that if il were tiger lie would
come last enough when he once got
WIND OF me, IL was long half-hour
OF suspense before the disturbance
came within reasonable distance.
Before half oil that time had passed |
was satisfied that something very
Objectionable 10 birds was walking
leisurely along the path, and perhaps
stopping now and then in the hope of
surprising one OF the birds unawares.
AZ length the thing was Just beyond
The turn ~ the path. In moment
or two ] should see what it was. Then
became conscious that Manuel
was standing IN tile middle OF thepath,
With his short spear held in a
horizontal position oyer his shoulder.
This was interesting and at the same
| time Very suggestive. ! concentrated
my entire nervous system in an in
tense contemplation Of the turn in the
path. The suspense was awful.
All what was that? a striped and
| spotted animal suddenly stood out
IA the open. His long tail swung SLOW.
/ ~ from slde to side, AMI his smooth
coat moved neryously with some
/ passing emotion. II was the tiger OF
the South American forests. He had
| stopped with one loot advanced, and
with his head in the attitusle OF atten-
ton. lie had seen something in the
path before him II was Manuel, who
was standing as inmovable as a rock
beside HIM. Il was a beautiful beast,
\ all silk and sollncss and graceful
curves thought il q pity that so
beautiful thing should be hunted
to death, hut AZ the same time I
reflected that this wonderfully beauti-
iul exterior covered nature that
was the living incarnation Of ferocity.
do not know how long Manuel and
the tiger laced each other there in the
narrow pathllke gladiators. II 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 for
est invariably did, but greatly 20 his
surprise the thing stood tsground like
an immovable rock. The tiger was
king Of the forest, and he knew it, and
when he had made up his mind that
this thing was not going TO run he
came forward slowly to investigate.
This was courage even ina wild brute,
aud respected him for IT,. doubt il
the lion or tiger OF India has this un-
shakHhle nerve.
Hooked at Manuel as the tiger came
slowly mud cautiously up the path.
lie stood like bronze statue, with
his spear held over his right shoulder.
Not so much as an eyelid moved. |
confess that during this trying time
was n bit nervous. This was new
way Of hunting To me. and a decided
novelty in the actions OF wild beast
which had not been attacked |
should expect nm attack from grizzly
bear after il had been wounded, but
assurelly the bear would not take
the aggressive as this 1.-THE and beau
tiiul beast was doing. ! will acknowl-
edge that my heart thumpcd against
my blue flannel shirt so hard that
was afraid that the noise would at
tract the attention OF the tiger.
Slowly came the tiger; like a rock
stood Manuel. II looked ms though
the case had been reversed, and that
the tiger instead OF the half-breed, was
the hunter,
Az length tho tiger was within touch.
ing distance of the man. He looked
the bronze figure over from head to
foot and then thrust forward his head
and shifted az the mans feet. Back
the great beast sprang like steel
spring. The figure was flesh and blood.
The tigers tail twitched back and
forth like a fail The great jaws
opened in snarl. Quickly the beast
measured his distance and crouched
with quivering sinews for a spring.
Such calm courage was grand beyond
all description. II was matched only
by the steadfast nerve OF the man.
Now came the crisis. could see
the huge muscles heaving under the
striped skin. In another second the
tiger would leap upon his prey. In
that instant the hunter made a mo-
ton with his left arm as quick as light
itself. He 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 hunters poised right arm shot for
ward with incredible force and the
a.