The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-11-01

place.
II wns about three hundred acres in
extent. aud dcusely covered with wild
fig, cotton, cork, pcopul and other
treos all intcrlurrd with gigantic creep
ers mud prickly, clinging tendrils.
twincd and twisted from the ground
mp. into "a fantastic mass Of rank vege-
taiion seeming impervious to any liv-
lug thing. Yet We knew that its dark
recesscs tccncd with noxious and ye-
nomous life.
Gu the advice of the head man, wo
ten Europeans took stations about one
hundred yards apart along one edge
OF the bsrce, while the natives were to
enter from the other side, and if pos
siblc drive the tigers out.
II the jungle had been an open one,
nothing could have induced the men
to undertake the task but ms tigers
do not climb trees. these would always
furnish means of escape III case of
need.
Each of the bcaters, in addition to
his curious Weapons and hand-gren-
ades, carried rude drum. horn, or
some other noisy instrument. When
the natives were fairly within tile
wood they began to work slowly to-
ward MS with tremendous din.
Dozens of iackals. aud other infer
ior brutes, disturbed by the hidcous
racket, broke cover early in the hunt
and skurricd past ~ into the long
grass of the open plain, without draw
ing shot. We were not inclined to
make game of anything lcss interest
ing than tigers.
[ was about the centre of the limo.
Next me to the right WAS Maitland,
and beyond him Smythe. an expert
cnccd hunter For three hours we
thus stood watching aud waiting. The
nun had climbed high mp before the
yclIs sud exploding grenades of the
beaters proved that they were gradu-
ally closing in on ~.
Yet wa had seen no sign of the I'll
gers. which, however, were just as
likely TO he lying within twenty feet
oi any ono OF us as anywhere else.
A few minutes more of anxious sus-
pense. aud We could see, reflected in
the tops OF the taller trees, occasional
flashes OF the fireworks. We could
even hear the vslorous words with
which the creeping besters sought to
encourage one another. Still no ii
gerl
/ had begun to think that our hunt
would end without find, when on a
little way to my right | heard whin'
ing purr, much resembling, though
greatly louder than. that of domes-
tic cat rudely aroused from its nap.
The tigers were up at last, and stretch
ing themselves. Dodgiug behind my
tree, with rifle ready, [ waited little
neryously, for the next move. The
heaters came steadily on, with ever
increasing noise aud accelerated fire
apparently covering every inch OF th'
ground.
Soon heard the indescribable, vi
brating screeches, half snarl, hal
roar, with which n full grown tigel
and tigress leaped over the fringe o
outlying bushes and loped away along
the edge OF the baree.
They were no more than sixty fee
from me aud made sure of the on
nearest, as | threw up my rifle AM
! touched the trigger. But the hamme
fell softly on a damaged cartridge
and when 1 hastily replaced it by an
other and fred scored clear miss
} Too late now for third trial
/ "Mark right" shouted, and hear
next moment the crack of Frank Matt
lands rifle, followed by scream iron
one of the flying brutes.
: "Mark right" shouted Frank.
Then Captain Smythe fired, and, a
| most blending with the report of hi
. gun, came his sharp cry for help.
The captain was posted two hundre
yards from me, but only one hundre
: from Frank. SO the boy, reloadin
as he ran, sped to the rescue alone
y He was not moment too soon. Th
tiger, crunching Smythe's left arm
: stood raging over his senseless bod,
As the boy drew nearer the MOI
i ster shook his victim as territ
shakes rat, and Frank thought 1