Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-11-09
A TIGERS PLAYTHiNG.

\ iOER = HLR F1lING.
In India once | went out Oh hot,
dusty plain near the CiangeS, with my
rifle and one native servant, TO see
what could shoot. 1t was dismal
place. Here and there were clumps
Of tall grass and bamboos with now
and then u tamarisk trse. Parrots
screamed in the trees, and the start
led cav OF some Indian crows made
NE pause and look around TO see
what had disturbed them.
The crows almost ut once settled
down again into silence, and as saw
no sign Of danger, | went on careless
lv. was alone, for had sent back
my servant to find my matchbox,
which had left at the place Of my
last halt; but had no Spprehension>;
for ! was near the post, and the dis
trict was one from which, as was sup
posed, the tigers had been cleared out
some years before.
Just rs | was mu>ng upon this fact,
with a tjngc Of regret because | had
come too late to have hand in the
clearance. | vas crushed TO the ground
by Il huge mass which seemed 10 have
been hurled upon me from behind.
Ny head felt as though it had been
dashed with icy or scalding water,
aud then everything turned black.
If was stunned by the shock. it
was only for an instant. When |
opened my eyes, | was lying with my
face in the sand Not knowing where
was or what had happened. lstarted
10 ri-c. when instantly It huge paw
turned me- over ou NY back, snd saw
tie great yellow green eyes Of tiger
looking down upon me through their
narrow black sitS
| did not feel ror-stricken; III
fact, SO far as can remember, | felt
only dim sense of resignation to the
inevitable. | also remember that |
noticed with curious interest that the
animal looked rather gratiied than
ferocious.
don't know how long lay there,
stupidity gazing up into the brown
eyes, but presently ! made move
ment to sit up. and then | saw that
| still held my rifle in my hand. While
| was looking at the weapon, with a
vague harassiug sense that there was
something l ought to do with it, the
tiger picked me up hy the left shoul-
der aud made of with me into the
Jungle; and still l clunS 10 the rifle,
though had forgotten what use |
should put it TO.
The grip Of the tigers teeth upon
my shoulder felt but numbly, and
yet, as | found afterward, it was so
far from gentle rs to have shattered
the bone.
Having carried me perhaps half u
mile, the brute dropped me and rails
ing her head uttered peculiar, soft
cry. Two cubs appeared at once in
answer TO he summons, and bounded
up TO meet her At the first glimpse
of me. however. they sheered of in
alarm. and their dam had to coax
them for some minutes, rolling me
over softly with her paw, or picking
me up and laying me down in front Of
them. before she could convince them
that | was harmless.
At last the Youngsters suffered
themselves 10 be persuaded. They
threw themselves upon ne with eager
though not very dangerous feroclty
end began to maui and worry me.
| Their claws and teeth seemed TO
awaken me for the first time 10 sense
of pain. | threw off the snarling little
animals roughly and started to crawl
away. In vain the cubs tried TO hold
me. The mother lay watching the
game with satisfaction.
Iustinctively crept toward tree,
and little by little the desire for es-
capped began tostir in my dazed brain.
When | 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 l had start
/ ed.
Why" thought to myself this
is just exactly the way cat plays
with a mouse"
Al the same moment a cloud seemed
to roll OF 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 l recovered
it desperately, with a sensation a. II
I had been falling over precipice.
Iknew now what | wanted TO do
with it. The suddenness of my ges-
.ure. however, appeared to warn the
/ -: .hot 7 bod vst q lirtle too much