The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-31


with very friendly eyes; he was a huge animal
aud beautiful TO look az, with his dark stripes
aud glowing ewes, but there WAS something
deadly IN the velvet strides he took across tho
parade ground, and IN the soft purring he was
wont 10 bestow upon those who won his favor
Bisgaum the elephant aud Sakkar did not
Get along very well. Ali, the tanner said there
was VA old lrua between them, and il was nat
ural that the Colonel should take the tigers
part
One day Bisgaum gave SalJkar a severe shak-
iRg up. which so cnrHged Col Solwyn that he
ordered Bisgaum in chains. ana derreed that he
should not be taken out OF has stable FOR SIX
months.
We could see that this did not suit Ali, who
cared little for the tiger.
The man had an evil eye which none Of MS
liked but we sympathiZed with Bisgaum, for
We would not have cared 10 he had ground
Sakkar 10 pieces under his feet
Every day we could hear Bisgaum complain
ing OF his hard lot; lac would trumpet forth his
rage aud shake his chains until the soothing
voice Of Ali came 10 appease him with its SYM
pathies
Col Selwyn seemed 20 take great delight in
the punishment he had inflicted on the ee-
phant; he would go 10 the stable and look in at
the huge beast as If the sight gave him great
delight; then he would 90 back and play with
the tiger.
One morning Ali came snealling from the
stable with a glittcring eye Those who saw
him thought there WAS something IN the wind,
aud j Watc led him creep into the grove Of
tamarnds which stood near the rambling val
lagc.
Presently Sakkar came ont and looked after
Ali as If be wanted 20 follow the friend Of Bis.
Raum and tear him TO pieces. Ii had become
evident 10 the whole regiment that Col. Selwyn
thought more Of the tiger than he did Of hls
men, and more than once plot had been
formed 10 poison the beast, for we thought the
world Of the Colonel aud hated to see striped
monster OF the jungle weaving bis affection
from us.
Ali did not come back any more that day,
and the Colonel threatened 20 sell Bisgaum II
De did not return within the next "a hours.
81 I'D have the elephant taken out aud shot If
ID wasn't for gaining the displeasure Of the
young MuharHjah,' said be, twisting his mus
tache. with the tiger al his feet Z" hate this
internal lusker. Look what he did to Sakkar
the other day. Let him get out aud try TO re-
peat the dose Then there will be file Of sol
diers and a dead elephant"
The next day All came back, and things
moved along as usual for some time. We could
see that the tiger seemed 10 be absorbing the
COlonel's whole time and attention. He slept
in the little house where Col. SelWyn lived,
some said across the foot Of the bed At any
rate the two were inseparable day and night,
and on parade IL was hard 10 tell which was the
superior officer, the Colonel or the tiger.
lBeryWhere we had 10 meet the animal. He
came upon uE unawares, as II he were playing
Gpy for his master, and again the old plots 10
poison SakkaT came 70 the front; but no one
had the courage TO carry out the suggestions.
For some time we thought OF going 10 Ali
aud begging his assistance, for we knew that
he hated Sakkar with all his heart, and that
be had been overheard 10 tell B,sgaum that
day Of vengeance WAS sure to come.
Al last the rule Of the tiger became unendur-
able. The wicked beast had full control of tho
Colonel, o. II he were a mesmerist The eyes Of
the man grew lusterloss in the animals presence
and be lost his Old-time vim. ] had heard of
people being under malign influence, but never
saw anything like the mastery Of the tiger from
the MahaEjah's gardens.
All the time the Coone''s hatred for Bisgaum,
the elephant. increased. lie talked openly Of
trying linn for mutiny and having him shot.
He was willing 10 incur the dislike Of the ruler
Of tile district who was one Of the frmest
friends the Queen had In Hl India, aud we
trcmhied "a tie madmau's suggestions.
Sakkar took 10 snCakinE round the stable
whore The elephant was confined lie would
rub bis striped body against the door aud sniff
about it as IL IL gave him great delight 10 know
that his old enemy was prisoner while he had
the freedom OF the village and could even take
excursions into the neighb0Ting jungle, which
be did whenever the camp aud the C0lOnelg
society grew a bit mOuOtOnUus.
One night we were told that the next day was
20 determine Bisgaums fate.
could hardly believe this, and eager 10 pre.
vent ruction winch / knew would follow
tie shooting Of the old tuskeT ] sought the
G0lOnels quarters j found him lying on a sofa
smoking with the white wreaths circliHg over
his bead aud near by lay the tiger half asleep,
though his long Tail moved against the Colo
nclE foot as ID 20 tell bis friend that lie had
nj fr0n ala ttnF inf. "A l,..
Col. SgwyH heard NE with some impatienee
told him about the prevailing rumors and
ended by saying that did not think il adgis
able 10 shoot the elephant.
You don't ell" said he, bis eyes lighting
up for O moment You don't think ! ought
20 shoot this inhuman MONASTERY Why, vol
have forgotten how be threw Sakkar into ID,
BIT and tried 10 trample him 10 death"
hat was the tigers time. lie saw Bis
Raum iu time 10 place himself Oh the defensive,
o. beat "a retreat"
"Sakkar retroat2 Never There Is good
blood in that animals veins What. my tipc
fall back from the enemy Never! You know
that the elephant came down upon him nj fol
charge, aud that IL WAS next 10 impossible q
prepare for the rush. III Ali had not inter
fored-and ] never could See why he did 70
De hatos Sakkar-the elephant might have en-
Issued my pet, aud then there would have beel
dead tuakeT on the paradc-grOund"
AtNh hHN |iaEt@"lAtN VI AAH MAhhfhJaAf ~
pleaded
ITO Tartarus with that!" cried the Colonel
striking the table with his FIST. - have hear
enough OF that What Is lac but q boy who
governed by lot OF old monY"
" But he be the Queens ally"-
The Queens hddlcsticEsl" was the inter
rupu0u. lll tell you what am going 10 do
shall give that elephant two days Of grace.
viii have Al lead him out, aud IL lac doesni
20 down On his knees 20 sakkar there will b
al order Tor a ile OF soldiers armed with Gle
phant rifles"
j said nothing, but ] knew that Bisgaur
would never 90 down and apologize 10 the Col
nes tiger
a shall instruct All tomorrow" continue
Col. helWyn. "lhe elephant understand
every word he says, aud lac shall state ID
proposition % him."
That was al ! could get out Of the Colon,
that night aud when j went back 10 the me-
aud reported, d was universally agreed that "
were ON the eve Of d tragedy.
The following morning COL Sclwyn sun
moned All, the OnceyCd, 10 his house aud tol
him about what he Told me- When the tip,
tanner came out his single eye had a stranp
almost eager, glitter, aud he vanished In a
direction OF the stables
That day Col. Selwyn seemed In an unusual
merry mood. lie whistled wherever he wen
aud the Tiger gliding 81 bis hcels-the CIV
genius 81 the camp-sccmed on the eve
some victory.
] watched everything that day, and amor
other events saw Ala come out Of BisPaum