The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-09-01
PHANTOM STRANGLERS.

private menagerie was the most COM
plete outside OF Mana Sahibs. But
long before our coming into the prov
ince Of Delhi the old rajah obliged
the world by getting olt of it. and his
tigers two of which were always at
heels were set free and vanished IN
their native lungles.
There was story that the IA ,,ah
nimself belonged to the strangers of
India; that he was in fact at tho
head OF lot of thugs, and had sworn
TO take the lives of so many English
soldiers. But death. as | have said.
interviewed and put a stop to his depre-
dations though not until twenty men
had felt the cord.
We lost Corporal Sanders witty
young lrishman. the week after we
came back to Agra. He was found
dead at the foot Of the rajahs wall
and at a spot where the wall was
solid and no signs Of door were visi-
bic. Then we heard story that
created sensation. A native said
that a man had been killed by the
phantom strangers; that the ghosts of
the old ra ah and his followers stole
forth from the gardens. every night
and pursued the same murderous call
ing they pursued when in flesh and
blood
One night, three weeks after San
ders's death, found myself near the
wall of the raiah's garden. The
moon was hanging in the sky like a
great silver shield and everything
was still, but the night bird that
crooned in the heart of a tall tama-
rind as ghoslly. as dead man.
| had lately emerged from the hos
pltal. having had a siege of fever
which nearly sent me to the dead
house, and l was a privileged char.
.acter not having reported for duty
In approaching the wall against
which the moon shone came face to
face with one OF our regiment. who
stood guard within few yards of
where poor Sanders had been found.
l-leaned forward so as not to disturb
the sentry for knowing the feelings
of the boys over the surgeons sup
pressed report I feared a bullet from
his musket, and l resolved to watch
1CIlON avn W SCG IL lie ur0aOeQ
his beat. .a -
While l looked it seemed to me
that door opened in the wall and
though the soldier on duty was look
ing IN the same direction. figure
came out But this was not ALL At
the mans heels stalked a large tiger.
/ saw both man and beast with a dis
tinctnes5 that added much to the
sight, and when I observed them
they drew up and the native leaned
against the wall until he discovered
the sentry.
The tiger crouched at his feet and
| could see that he was one of the
largest of the species. / had seen
tigers before but never one just like
this. There was something ghostlv
about the beast for seemed to see
through his body; and as for the
man, who was quite naked. was sure
L could see the ivy that grew directly
behind him.
wondered why the soldier did not
see the man aud tiger and l was on
the eve of giving the alarm, for MUIR
der seemed a-foot, when he fell back
'duu uedrly u"OppeQ the gun.
The sentry had seen the foe. for he
Immediately Strengthened along the
wall and for a full minute stood rigid
there.
Shoot the scoundrelr' was on nv
lips when the guard raised his musket
and his cheeks dropped to the glintine
barrel; but he did not fire.
stood in the shadow of a tamarind
speeches and spellbound. Every.
thing l had ever heard about ghosts
came back. and some of the weird
tales OF my nurse returned with added
force. Why didn't the sentry shoe
and kill the man. whose long arms
dangled suspiciously at his sides:
Why didn't he fire. and then prepare
to bayonet the tiger? w.
All of d sudden the soldier fell back
against the wall. and to my horror
saw the gun drop from his fingers,
Instead of falling he stood there a!
stiff as a post with his eyes startine
from his head and his hands tearint
their way into the palms. It was ;
picture OF deadly fright
l saw the two phantoms lean to
"dlu tuo utIl dG Lu0 Wall; the hand
of the native flew out and the mex
moment both he and the tiger wer
upon the guard.
Ii | had had power at my comman,
would have sprung to my comrade'
rescue. but l was as helpless as
child. The terrible scene going on il
my presence terrified rue into ute
helplessness and I watched it through
The moon passing behind clou,
for /; moment diss1pated the tragedy
but when it reappoared saw the ma
tive and the tiger vanish in the wall
Everything was as it had been. wit
the exception Of the aspect Of th
guard. He still Rugged the wall bu
with the most Mortified countenance
ever saw. approached and locke
once into his face. l saw the starir
eyes and then dark mark like tina
made by fingers on the white throat.
The man was dead!
For some time I stood there wit
terror sealing my lips. The soldie
had been killed by the demon han
and realized the full import OF th
surgeons report to the colonel Th