Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-11-26
you would not fill the bill at all. "

Wouldn't, chr" and he chuckled
softly as he threw a quick glance
up aloft. took squint to windward
and commenced:
" 1t happened some ten years ago.
! was foolhardy then and hot blood
ed. II was on the Island of Ceylon.
where a friend had invited me to
spend a few days with him on his
coffee estate, situated some 5000 feet
above the level of the sea. The
bungalow was a fine, comfortable
affair. possessing every comfort.
with troops of white turbaned serv-
ants, who fairly anticipated ones
wants.
We'll. we were sitting one even
ing on the veranda enjoying ma
tive cheroot, along with glass of
grog brandy. you know, dashed
with trifie of ice, for there was an
ice machine connected with my
friends establishment-when a ma
tive superintendent rode hastily up to
the bungalow, salaamed and uttered
few musical sentences in Hindoo
stance to Sahib Rawlings.
THE upshot of the matter was
this: An elephant--a wild one OF
course-had broken from the jungle,
pulled down fences. uprooted the
young, tender coffee plants, raising
the very -ahem mischief in few
hours to the tune of 9200 worth of
damage.
There was but one verdict, and
that was the rogue elephant must
die. Rawlings had large assort-
ment of weapons, including tiger
and elephant rifles. and it was
agreed, before we retired, that at
daylight we should start In search OF
the huge mischievous monster.
But with the morning servant
handed me note from my host,
stating that an unexpected summons
to Handy as witness in an important
law matter had capsized all his plans,
and that the hunt must wait until he
returned, the precise date of which
was uncertain. A few words of
apology for the early and uncere-
monious leave taking followed, bid.
ding me enjoy myself in the interim
My mind was made up in trice.
! would go after the elephant single
handed, save my friend deal of ex-
pense, reserving for myself the pleas
ure Of exhibiting to him the ivory
tuslSs rs trophies of my skill.
"Remonstrances and words OF
warning from the Cingalese superin
tendent were unheeded, and. attend
ed by Tamba. well trained, alert
native gun bearer, ! sailed forth in
the yet cool of the morning.
"'rhe sun had not dried the dew
from the magnificent foliage Of the
jungle. ere we were well into its
depths, the wild, rank grass, with
cane and bamboo, rising far above
our heads. The sudden call of pea
cock sounded shrill and discordant
through the tangled surroundings.
Tamba, his dark face glowing with
excitement, whispered that it was
the sure indication of a tiger being
near.
"The information sent queer sort
Of chill down my spine. 1t was big
game, awful big, too much so in fact,
and l would have gone about on the
other tack had it not been for the
enthusiasm of Tamba. 1t would never
do for Yankee to funk and leave a
native in possession of the field, SO
we pushed on, with my heart thump-
ing like the throbs of the machinery
of this vessel.
There was sudden commotion
amid the waving, bending mass Of
foliage, a subdued growl, followed by
crash, as magnificent specimen Of
Ceylon tiger bounded from its
cover, disappearing the next instant
amid the underbrush of the forest.
I'VE followed the track as rapidly
as possible, glancing warily from
side to side. Again the peacock
sounded its warning. My rifle was
cooked and my nerves braced for the
brute's onset, when n low exclama-
ton from Tamba caused me to glance
in his direction.
'Tumbling out of the coarse grass,
rolling over and over, was a cub, as