The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1891-11-06

again.
| LOOKING down over the rock g few
moments later found Manuel gazing
up at me. He pointed away of to
| the left, in the direction of the second
disturbance, and again disappeared.
IL is probable that on this occasion
he hid himself in the underground
alongside the path. I gave my I'M
| divided attention to the distant
fiuttering of birds. 1t was a curious
sort of circus that the birds were hav-
ing. The little things eircled about III
the tops-of the trees and screamed
shrilly one to the other. 1t might
have been huge snake that frighten-
ed and fascinated them, or it might
have been tiger. Manuel knew, in
all probability, but he made no sign.
The disturbance came n little near
| er but it seemed to me that it moved
very slowly. If tiger were coming
along the path he should, in my
opinion, have made better time. I
claimed my impatience by assuring
myself that if it were tiger he would
come fast enough when he once got
wind of me. 1t was a long half-hour
of suspense before the disturbance
came within reasonable distance.
Before half OF that time had passed
was satisfied that something very
Objectionable to birds was walking
leisurely along the path, and perhaps
stopping now and then in the hope OF
surprising one OF the birds unawares.
At length the thing was Just beyond
the turn in the path. In a moment
or two l should see what it was. Then
| became conscious that Manuel
was standing IN the middle OF the path,
with his short spear held III n
horizontal position over hIs shoulder.
This was interesting and at the same
time very suggestive. L 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
in the open His long tail swung slow
ly from side to side, an his smooth
coat moved nervously with some
passing emotion. 1t was the tiger of
the South American forests. He had
stopped with one loot advanced, and
with his head in the attitude of atten-
ton. He had seen something in the
path before him. 1t was Manuel, who
was standing as inmOvable as rock
beside HIM. 1t was q beautiful beast,
all silk and softness and graceful
curves. l thought it n pity that so
beautiful a thing should be hunted
to death, but at the same time |
reflected that this wonderfully beauti-
full exterior covered n nature that
was the living incarnation of ferocity.
do not know how long Manuel and
the tiger faced each other there in the
narrow path like gladiators. 1t seemed
n very long time. This was the test.
The tiger waited inStinctively to see
the strange thing before linn turn and
run away as everything else in the for
est invariably did, but greatly to his
surprise the thing stood groundl like
an immovable rock. The tiger was
king OF the forest, and he knew it, and
when ne had made up his mind that
this thing was not going 10 run he
came forward slowly to investigate.
This was courage, even in a wild brute,
and l respected him for it. ! doubt if
the lion or tiger OF India has this I'M
shakable nerve.
Hooked at Manuel as the tiger came
slowly and cautiously up the path.
He stood like n bronze statue, with
his spear held over his right shoulder.
Not so much as an eyelid moved. l
confess that during this trying time
was a bit nervous. This was a new
way of hunting to me, and decided
novelty in the actions of q Wild beast
which had not been attacked. 1
should expect an attack from a grizzly
bear after it had been wounded, but
assuredly the bear would not take
the aggressive as this 1.-the and beau
tiful beast was doing. / will acknowl-
edge that my heart thumped against
my blue flannel shirt so hard that l
was afraid that the noise would at
tract the attention of the tiger.
Slowly came the tiger; like a rock
stood Manuel. 1t looked as though
the 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. He 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 n steel
spring. The figure was flesh and blood.
The tigers tail twitched back and
forth like q fail. The great jaws
opened in a snarl. Quickly the beast
measured his distance and Crouched
with quivering sinews for a spring.
Such calm courage was grand beyond
all description. 1t was matched only
by the steadfast nerve of the man.
Now came the crisis. l 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 mo-
tion with his left arm as quick as light
itself. He tore a handkerchief from
his neck and thrust it full in the tigers
face. Up went the tigers head in a
quiYer of electrical amazement. Then
the hunters poised right arm shot for
ward with incredible force and the
spear buried itself half way to the
haddle in the tigers neck.
All, it was nobly done; and through