The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-11-11
Suddenly the air began to tremble.

like the first breath Of great organ.
''He is there" said the barra saheb,
and il was then that Oomerkahn hastily
placed his forces, which resulted in my
being safely lodged on the limb, with
what | considered a doubtful compl-
ment.
Then the order was given TO burn him
out, and while Oomerkahn and one or
two coolies built fire as close to the
mouth of the cave as possible, the barra
saheb took a position beside the trunk
Of tree directly in front and perhaps
ten feet away.
The Jungle was so thick that not a
ray OF sunlight fell anywhere about us.
1t was like twilight, and the fire lit it
up with frightful, ghostly glare, while
on every side sounded the cries Of
frightened birds and animals.
As soon as the fire was burning well
the coolies crept away. while Oomerkahn
caught some Of the blazing sticks, threw
them directly into the mouth Of the
cave and sprang back. He was none
too quick. ] saw the barra saheb's rifle
leap TO his shoulder. His acute ear had
caught change in those deep, rumb-
ling notes 20 which we were becoming
accustomed.
In his haste the Hindu had stumbled
and fallen upon his back The next in
slant the very ground seemed to shake
as the air had trcmbled before. There
was terrific crash, like "A sharp peal OF
thunder. A huge form burst from the
shubbery half concealing the entrance
to the cave and a royal Bengal tiger was
literally gliding through the air. He
swept like dark cloud over the darting
flames and PROSTATE form Of Oomerkahn.
His huge fore paws were extended. His
eyes were shut. His great jaws,
which had so recently crushed the
life out Of human being, were stretched
wide open. His long. savage teeth
cleaned in the freight as he passed
over it.
He was not lcaping toward me. He
could not by any possibility reach me,
yet the sound Of that roar and the sight
OF that huge, tawny body as it swept the
flames filled me with such terror as ]
never felt before. 1t caught my breath
away. My heart stood still. Iclutched
my rifle, utterly helpless.
No. ! was not TO be trusted to face
tiger There was no doubt Of that. In
blank astonishment | saw the bara saheb
standing calmly by the tree. | saw the
flash and heard the report OF his rifle as
the ferocious beast came abreast OF him.
saw him lean behind the tree as he
fired, and the next next instant, with n
wild yell, the tiger struck the ground
not five feet from where the barra saheb
had stood. For moment it lay coiled
where il fell, n great mass OF fur, then
gave one fearful contortion and stretched
itself TO its full length, shuddered and
died.
Oven then / trembled from head to
foot as | climbed down from the tree,
and hardly dared to approach the lifeloss
mass.
did my best to be markedly civil to
Oomerkahn through the rest of the day,
and quietly made up my mind that it
would take more than feeling n tigers
breath to make me safe TO face tiger.
1t is strange how easy it is TO leap
from one conclusion to its opposite; but
had an opportunity to discover another
mistake short time aftcrward.
Mounted on elephants, my friend and
| were making trip into the interior
toward my destination. The weather
was so hot that we rode early in the
morning and Just before dark. was
sitting in my howdah, half asleep from
the effect of the heat and the peculiar
motion OF the elephant, when | was sud
denly reused by n shrill shrek from the
elephant, accompanied by quick jerk,
a sharp ej ejaculation from the mahoot sit
ting on his head and loud cry from my
friend, who was riding not far behind.
Opening my eyes, the first thing | saw
was a tiger in midair, apparently flying
directly toward me.
Altogether the situation was thorough.
ly bewidering, and confess that from
the start my wits forsook me.
Thanks to the sudden lurch of the ele-
phant, which was for that express pur-
pose, the tiger missed his aim, and in
stead of striking the howdah he hit upon
the elephants haunch, where his CLEAN
ing, yellow claws sank into the thick
hide. For an instant he hung there with
out another motion, looking directly up
at me.
"fIe'll begin to climb in second"
my friend shouted, hurrying on behind,
while my own elephant moved faster and
faster in an effort to dislodge his burden.
" Aim for his breast. Shoot steady and
sure Don't miss him for your life"
One who has never faced tiger will
doubtless think it simple cowardico,
though | have met many old tiger
hunters who have recountcd the same
experience at the stsrt-yet, had it not
been for that warning call from my
friend, positively doubt If | should
have once thought of my rifle. AS it
was, lifted it mechanically to my
shoulder. | did not trouble myself about
the aim, for | could not take my eyes
from that savage face. | was thoroughly
benumbcd and bewildercd. My hand
shook so that more than once my finger
slipped from the trigger before mustered
strength enough to pull.
The moment the report sounded the
mahoot turned the elephant sharply to
one side. That is one of the common
.orr,,lu,;ons ~ ti,,nr buntin,, with ola