St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-17

travelling along a road with a dense
Jungle on either side. The torches
threw q weird, uncertain light on the
high grass and bushes that bordered the
road. The carriers spoke in under
tones, and soon fell asleep. 1t was
near midnight when | awoke, owing to
the sudden stopping of the men. was
out of the palanquin in a moment, aud
then learned that something was the
matter with Harris. | went to his
palanquin and found that the poor fell
low was evidently down with cholera.
The rascally carriers had learned that,
too, and in body the whole lot had de-
serted us, as is the habit of these crea-
lures. l had provided myself with some
chlorydine, and gave Harris corking
dose of it. 1t must either kill or cure.
Then | wondered what was best to be
done, and determined to get to Rhamsl
and summon aid to get Harris back to
hospital.
l told him my resolve. We shook
hands without saying word, and |
closed the door of his palanquin. l
sometimes breaking into dOg-trOt and
trying to break the solitude by whist
ling. AS l trudged along | heard now
and again crash in the jungle close by,
denotlng some animal that had been dis
turbed, probably at his meal.
After time feeling came over me
that there was something walking
abreast of me in the forest. If L stopped
the noise ceased at once. / tried to think
1t was only my Imagination, but the con-
viction grew stronger and stronger.
There was something keeping me com
pany. The moon had risen, and shone
on the road, throwing dark shadows of
the trees across the path and lighting
up open patches in the jungle, only to
make the remainder look darker by
comparison. 1t was when passing one
of these Open spaces that | saw my com
panion. My heart stood still. Not fifteen
PAGES from me stood tiger, a very giant
it looked. watching me cruelty and
switching its tail from side to side.
What was to do? With my thoughts
full of my sick chum, L had not for
moment thought Of arming myself as
started off on my midnight walk. All
had was a light stick. There was no
good in going back. The only chance
to SuccOr was in front. so | pushed on.
L expected every moment to see the
striped brute making spring from out
OF tile grass. 1t was, no doubt, enjoy
ing my torture, and was just playing
with me. Suddenly the brute seemed
to have left me, and | hurried along the
road. wondering dOubtfully if such was
my fortune. All hope was soon dashed
to the ground, for, as L turned the cCr-
ner, L came to a sudden halt.
There i'll the middle of the road
crouching on his launches, growing
slightly. with tail switching from side
to side, was the tiger. We looked at
one another and | thought [ would try
and brighten him. | rushed forward.
waving my arms like windmills and
yelling my lOudeSt. 1t did brighten
him, and he dashed into the Jungle,
while L ran forward, hoping to find
some refuge. There was not a tree
around that would have given me
shelter, and, furthermore, had there
been one, l don't think l had the
strength to climb it. | did not believe
L had etfectually scared the tiger, and
soon L was sure of it. for | caught the
sound of it as it pushed aside the thick
underground, and then, when | came
to straight, level stretch of the road,
saw the brute spring into the middle,
Just where the straight ended, and
crouch down again.
! tried the frightening trick again. but
it only brought me nearer him, and
made him growl more loudly and
fercely. stood still; great beads of
perSpiration broke out all over me; l
felt as if my veins were about to burst.
With an awful choking sensation of the
throat [ saw the brute look over his
shoulder. Then all was lost i'll oblivion.
| had tainted dead away.
When | regained consciousness white
men Were'dashing water over my face
and chest, and as [ looked around some
one poured strong brandy and water
down my throat.
Had l been dreaming? Was l still
dreaming? were my first thoughts, but
it all came back to me gradually.
1t was the fainting that had saved
me, for those around me were some Of
the officers from Rhamsi, who, hearing
that the bearers had returned to town
and deserted us. knew that we must be
III some fix in the jungle. They had
Immediately made up a rescue party
When they came up to me they saw,
standing over me, the tiger, which,.
seeing the strength of the new arrivals,
skulked off into the jungle with bullet
Or two whistllng near to hurry him on
his way. Harris recovered rapidly, but
1t was long time before | got over the
mental strain of that awful midnight
walk with tiger