The Forrest City times., 1892-04-15
WOMEN HUNT TIGERS.
THEY RISK THEIR LIVES IN THE
 EXPERIMENT..
A Surprise and Battle With a Ferocious Tigress Desperate Struggle and ths Terrible Work Of the
 Msn-Eatcr.

" spending our time gathering orchids and other botanical specimens. We therefore pitched our tents in small clearing on the outskirts Of the dense jungle near military village in the hill country. Our Hindoo servants soon made us very much at home It was wonderful to see how they trans ported every necessary luxury. and as by magic raised tents furnished with carpets. tables chairs, books and oven bird cage.
 Early one morning as we were lIn- gering over our 'chota haziri" or little breakfast always taken in India on rising. and speaking of the noises made by the wild animals dur ing the night my attention was at- tracted by great chattering of wild monkeys in the dense jungle close by. At that instant native came running into the tent in state of great excite ment salaaming. but waiting for us to speak.
 'Kya chahte hop (what do you wantp") Mir. Norton asked.
 ',Sahib. plenty big tiger near by Many men see him. He is hiding near the nalaA
 We held our breath for an instant then the blood seemed to leap faster through our veins A tiger so near The nala, or stream of water, was but ten rods from our tent
 Mr Norton turned to us; Ladies would you like to go on a tiger huntP'
 ''Yes indeed. " we quickly answered, 'if it is not too dangerous.
 Never fear, we will take good care of you
 Immediately we made preparations for the hunt. We put on leather belt, well filled with cartridges selected Martini rifles put on pith hats with turbans over them. and moved off to the da wa hkana Here we found a party of sepoys drawn upi line await ing our arrival. Wo soon eros sed the little stream. where we saw the tiger tracks in the mud of the bank. look ing like footprints of a giant cat Breathlessly we moved on toward the deep jungle of tangled bamboos and palms Mr. Norton. who had often shot tigers on foot took us under his special care. The Hindoo doctor ow- ing to his knowledge Of the jungle was made the leader of the entire party and we began our march.
 We might have been out three hours, watching every patch of jungle and elephant grass for sight of the beast we longed to meet when the wild chattering of a tl oop of monkeys indicated that the tiger was not far of. What an exciting moment it was! Though the heat was intense, and we were very tired. on we vent as stealthily as possible. although some times falling on the slippery leaves. But the bare feet of our Indian hun ters made no noise as they stealthily stole through the dry grass. Heated. breathless on we went Another chatter of monkeys a fiutter of bright winged birds as we stepped into a small grassy space. completely en- circled by tall palms showed Us that the tiger was near at hand.
 A little in advance of our scouting 6 jungle heavy and dark. We could see by the rustling of the grass that it was the hiding plac, of some great animal. A consultation was hurriedly held How should we attack himP There was not an instant to be lost Again the tiger moved and for q sec ond we saw his yellow coat gleaming through the green.
 Oar talk was suddenly ended in an unexpected way. A clump of ele- phaut grass at one side was quickly parted. A great flash of yellow bounded toward us, gleam of blazing eyes made our blood run cold. A tigress, the mate of the royal creature in the jungle. with open mouth, leaped l suddenly upon us! Motionless with amazement and horror we stood, Oh. the fearful cruel face as she stood | flashing her tail from side to side! | Her hot breath almost burnt my face | as with outspread claws she made one fierce bound toward me. dashing the sepoy in front to the ground. was paralyzed with fear. Surely my last hour had come. But native sprang between us. the rifles cracked, the hunting knives gleamed It was soon hand to- hand fight. One gal lant young sepoy lay senseless; blood | dripped from the shoulder of another. | Still the enraged tigress held her | ground, while fear and a horrible fas | cination riveted us to the spot Al though bleeding from a great wound | in the shoulder. the tigress once more made ready to spring. The ladies
 were in imminent peril But the brave
 Hindoo doctor. knife in hand. plunged
 almost iuto the jaws of the tigress ii deadly embrace. Over rolled man ant
 beast; sometimes gleam of blood
 stained white showed where our pool
 defender was writhing; but the grea
 tawny body of the tIgress seemed t
 All all space. No one dared to shoot for the rifle shot might kill the mar
 instead of the beast Finally - l
 might have been seconds. but it seemed
 hours-a brave young sepoy rushed
 up. knife in hand his swarthy fac'
 under his white turban gleaming witt
 excitement
 Mem Sahib" he cried. My doc
 tor. He save my wife and child. H'
 must not die today" and the brav'
 fellow rushed forward into the jaws O
 death.
 His silver-hilted knife. sharp as
 Toledo blade. gleamed with lightning
 rapidity; it descended just over tn
 heart The tigress gave one screan