Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-11-26

full of antics as kitten. The stout
hunting spear of the native made
, short work of the youngster. and
again we plunged into the interlaced
intr1cacies of the Indian jungle. The
grass encountered our movements to
such an extent that Tamba babe me
wait a bit while he cut a passage
through the tough network with his
keen hunting knife. He soon disap-
peared, while l. my head close to the
ground, was peering from side to
side, when frightful roar, appar-
emily by my side, rang in my ears.
There was a burst of hot, fetid
air as the brute's breath poured into
my face; flash of ferocious gleam-
ing eyes flashing with fires of hell
tawny name and lolling blood red
tongue, and l felt myself jammed in
the brute's iron jaws.
Fortunately for myself, l had
taken the precaution of donning a
thick, tough hunting suit of Scotch
stuff belonging to my friend. The IT,
gers jaws had grip on the waist
band, holding me firm as wise,
while my body, by slight move
ment of the muscular neck. had been
thrown across the broad, massive
shoulders of the formidable beast.
Growing and painting with every
movement. the tiger trotted toward
the inner recesses of the jungle, and
it would be impossible for me to at
tempt to describe my sensations as
the brute bore me rapidly through
the underbrrlsh. Rest assured, was
fully alive to the peril was in.
was neither dazed nor paralyzed by
fear, as mouse is said to be when
in the grip of cat. On the con-
trary, all my faculties were on the
qui vive. striving in vain to think of
some plan by which could escape
certain death.
THE speed and enormous bounds
of the brute appeared to increase as
the ground became clearer. | was
swayed from side to side, jostled and
shaken until my bones ached and
head throbbed from the hard, uneven
motion. Every motion or effort on
my part was met by low. ominous
growl, as with renewed vigor he
bounded on. intent apparently upon
reaching some favorito haunt, where
a MONDAY meal off Of my unfortunate
body could he made.
"Occasional)y there would be a
pause, slight cessation in the Jolt
ing and bouncing. enabling me to
use my eyes for moment. The Da
ture and aspect of the jungle had
undergone a change IA wonderful
one. The ground was open. covered
with stones and large bowlders.
while the long, terrible claws of the
animal slid and scratched over sur
faces of hard, smooth granite With
out doubt that awful journey that
ride to death was nearly at an end.
In all probability the tigers iair had
or crevice in the stones, possibly
half hidden cave. where amid the
rubbish and debris my bones would
whiten and crumble to dust-my
fate remain d mystery to my friends,
who would search in vain the deep
aisles of the vast jungle for some
trace of what had once been their
friend and companion.
THE very train of thought nerved
my arm with renewed strength ana
desperation. In my struggles my
hand came in contact with the butt
of u heavy navy revolver slung to
my bolt Strange that | had not
thought of the weapon before. Upon
that weapon depended my chances
of life or death.
Feeling for the left shoulder of
the monarch of the jungle, and point
ing the revolver as near the direction
of the heart as | could judge, with
the muzzle pressed close against his
sinewy hide, ! pulled the trigger
three times in rapid succession.
~ felt myself rise high in the air.
there was a prolonged and horrible
roar, grinding of the long formi-
dable teeth, and was sent rolling
over and over bruised, half stunned,
bleeding and aching in every joint,
as sprawled and slipped along the
corrugated surface of granite.
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