The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-11-09

lnstinctivelp I crept toward tree,
and little by little the desire for es.
cape began to stir in my dazed brain.
When l was within foot or two Of the
tree the tiger made great bound,
seized me in her jaws, and carried me
back to the spot whence had started.
"Why," thought to myself, "this
is just exactly the way cat plays with
mouse !"
At the same moment cloud seemed
to roll off my brain. No words of
mine can describe the measureless and
sickening horror of that moment when
realization was thus suddenly flashed
upon me.
At the shock my rifle slipped from
my relaxing fingers; but / recovered
it desperately, with a sensation as if J
had been falling over precipice.
I knew now what I wanted to do
with it, The suddenness of my ges-
ture, however, appeared to warn the
tiger that had yet little too much
life in me. She growled and shook
me roughly. I took the hint, you may
be sure, and resumed my former atti-
tude of stupidity; but my faculties
were now alert enough and at the
cruelest tension.
Again the cubs began mauling me.
repelled them gently, at the same
time looking to my rifle. l saw that
there was cartridge ready to be pro-
iected into the chamber. [ remem-
bered that the magazine was not more
than half-empty.
| started once more to crawl away,
with the cubs snarling over me and
trying to hold me and it was at this
point I realized that my left shoulder
was broken.
Having crawled four or five feet, ]
let the cubs turn me about, whereup-
on I crawled back toward the old til
ger, who lay blinking and actually
purring. 1t was plain that she made
good meal not long before, and was,
therefore, in no hurry to dispatch me.
Within about three feet of the
beast striped foreshoulder l stopped
and fell over on my side, as if all but
exhausted. My rifle barrel rested on
little tussock. The beast moved her
head to watch me, but evidently con.
sidered me past all possibility of es-
cape, for her eyes rested as much upon
her cubs as upon me.
The creatures were tearing at my
legs, but in this supreme moment l
never thought of them. / had now
thoroughly regained my self-control.
Laboriously, very deliberately, l
got my sight and covered spot right
behind the old tigress' foreshoulder,
low down. From the position / was
in, knew this would carry the bullet
diagonally upward through the heart.
/ should have preferred to put bullet
through the brain, but in my disabled
condition and awkward posture 1 could
not safely try it.
Just as L was ready, one of the cubs
got in the way and my heart sank.
The old tiger gave the cub playful
cuff which sent it rolling to one side.
The next instant pulled the trigger
and my heart stood still.
NV aim had not wavered hairs
breadth. The snap of the rifle was
mingled with fierce yell from the
tiger, and the long barred body straight
ened itself mp in the air and fell ovei
almost on top of me. The cubs
sheered off in great CONSERVATION.
[ sat up and drew long breath oi
thankful relief. The tiger lay beside
me, stone dead
[ was too weak to walk at once, so
leaned against the body of my van
ouished foe and rested. My shoulder
was by this time setting up an an
guish that made me think little OF my
other injuries. Nevertheless, the scene
about me took on glow OF exquisite
color. So great was the reaction thai
the very sunlight seemed transhgufed'
know I fairly smiled as l raped
the cubs on the mouth with my rlhe
barrel. | felt no inclination to shoo'
the youngsters, but | would have no
more of their ardent attentions. Inc
animals soon realized this and lay
down in the sand beyond my reach
evidently waiting for their mother 'c