The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1892-08-06
again and set out after the herd. Here
and there We found we'll beaten paths to

times we could scarcely force a passage
through the thickets. l was leading the
way and supposed my men were following.
The afternoon was wearing away, and
whenever struck favorable ground in
creased my pace to a run | finally heard
the elephants ahead of me. and was creep
ing up when l suddenly realized that was
alone in the forest. / waited for perhaps
ten minutes, and then followed slowly on
after the elephants, who We're feeding as
they moved along. Iexpected to be over
taken at any moment. and was not in the
least alarmed. was gradually getting on
TO the heels of the herd when something
occurred to alarm the beasts again, and
away they went at a tremendous gait, and
knew l should see nothing more of them
that afternoon.
lage and on plain path, but the sun was
20 low that it was twilight in the forest.
was going forward at a good pace when
\ huge hyena crossed my path with q
srowl. Two minutes later there were
yelps and snarls from every direction, and
l realized that the night providers of the
forest were astir. / was going bravely
ahead and would have been out of the
forest in half an hour more when the sun
went down and l had to almost feel my
way foot by foot. The situation was any
thing but pleasant. If ! climbed a tree l
might be bitten by Il snake lurking among
the branches, and the mosquitoes would
eat me alive in two hours if | escaped the
serpent. To go forward was to guess at
the right compass point, and l heard
sounds to prove that wild beasts were
providing about in every direction. Will
liams had borrowed my matchbox or !
could have made a torch. | had a heavy
single barreled rife, but no extra ammu-
milton and therefore dared not fire signal.
l was picking my way slowly, feeling
beaten path under my feet. when Of sud-
den l felt myself falling. One cannot re-
member his thoughts in such emergencies
may have cried out, but do not recollect
it. l remember that, as l brought up on
my head and shoulders, ! heard fierce
growing almost in my ear. Twas stunned
for moment. When pulled myself up
to sitting position l was at one end of an
elephant pit, which was five feet wide,
twelve long and twelve deep. The other
end was occupied by tiger. l knew it be-
cause could smell him, and because he
had his eyes on me, and knew the eyes be-
ionged to a tiger. Elephant pits are gen.
orally so firmly covered that no beast weigh
ing less than 500 pounds can break through.
This one, as l afterward ascertained, had
been covered so long that the poles had
rotted and weakened. The tiger was ahead
Of me in falling in.
No one can tell how a wild beast will act
under certain circumstances. There is
even wide difference between two of the
same species. This tiger did not rush upon
me as fell into the pit, but that might
have been the action of another As be-
came certain Of the situation found little
in it to console me, and l admit that was
badly ratified. The tiger kept his two
greenish eyes fastened on me, but Iglanced
at him only at long intervals. The fact
that he had not attacked me might be
taken as proof that he would not if l did
not provoke him. It was very hot night
above, but quite cool at the bottom of the
pit, and not single mosquito found it's
way down there. After the lapse of half
an hour began to get my nerve back, and
it may astonish you to learn that took
number Of short maps during the long
hours Of that night. l was aroused from
one Of these by the low, fierce growls of the
tiger, and moment later ! looked up to
see the head Of some wild beast on the
path above. 1t growled in return, and l
set it down for a hyena. / think the tiger
also slept at intervals. If not, then he had
bis head turned 80 that ! could no longer
see his eyes.
was sleeping quite soundly when day
light came, and a whining, snuffing noise
made by the tiger aroused me- Ny eyes
were hardly open when he came over to me
and smelled Of my knees and feet and
hands. He actually rested his head on nv
knees and looked into my eyes. think he
was at first inclined to attack me, as he
growled in n menacing way and dashed his
tail, but as shut my eyes and kept quiet
be finally changed his mind and Withdrew
to his corner. As time passed he grew I'M
easy and kept -.p continual whine. Every
wild beast seeks its covert between day
break and sunrise, and this instinct made
the tiger restless. The sun was Just up
when heard the reports Of rifles, and five
minutes later the voice of Williams came
plainly to my ears. The tiger also heard
the sounds, and thought he acted as il
badly frightened. | was watching him
through half open eyes when the face Of
Williams appeared over the edge Of the
pit and he called out in horror stricken
tones:
Great heavens! but he's at the bottom
OF this pit with tigeri Blank, are you
aliyer'
YES" answered in voice just above
a whispers: go and get one of the cages
and our ropes. The tiger is cowed. and !
think we can secure him."
He did not stop to argue the point. but
returned within an hour with the outfit.
During his absence the tiger dug at the
bank with his claws and kept up a whining,
and only once did he come near me. Then
he backed up and made leap for the edge
OF the pit. AS he fell back he growled in
anger and disappointment and lay down