Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-12-14
IN A TIGERS GRIP.


shoot. 1t was dismal place. Here and
there We're clumps of tall grass and bam-
boo, with now and then II tamarisk tree.
Parrots screamed in the trees, and the star
tied cav of some Indian crows made me
pause and look around to see what had dis
turbed them.
The crows almost at once settled down
again into silence, and as | saw no sign of
danger went on carelessly. l 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 apprehensions,
for was near the post, and the district was
one from which, as was supposed, the tigers
had been cleared out some years before.
Just as was musing upon this fact, with
tinge of regret because had come toe
late to have hand in the clearance, I was
crushed to the ground by a huge mass
which seemed to have been hurled upon
me from behind.
II was stunned by the shock, It was
only for an instant. When l opened my
eyes, was lying with my face in the sand.
Not knowing where was or what had hap
pened, started to rise, when instantly a
huge paw turned me over on my back, and
saw the great yellow green eyes of IL tiger
looking down upon me through their mar
row black Sits.
did not feel horror stricken. In fact, 50
far rs l can remember l felt only dim
sense of resignation to the inevitable. /
also remember that noticed with curious
interest that the animal looked rather
gratified than ferocious.
don't know how long lay there, stu
pidly gazing up into the brute's eyes, but
presently I made movement to sit up,
and then saw that still. held my rifle in
my hand. While was looking at the weap.
on with vague, harassing sense that there
was something l ought to do with it, the
tiger picked me up by the left shoulder
and made off with me into the jungle, and
still chung to the rifle, though had for.
gotten what use should put it to.
Having carried me perhaps half mile,
the brute dropped me, and raising her head
uttered peculiar, soft cry. Two cubs ap
peared at once in answer to the summons
and bounded up to meet her. At the first
glimpse of me, however they sheered off in
alarm, and their dam had to coax them fol-
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 them.
selves to be persuaded. They threw them
selves upon me with eager though not very
dangerous feroeity and began to maui and
worry me. Their claws and teeth seemed
to awaken me for the first time to sense
of pain. threw off the snarling little
animals roughly and started to crawl away
In vain the cubs tried to hold me. Thu
mother lay watching the game with salts
faction.
Instinctively crept toward a tree, and
little by little the desire for escape began
to stir in my dazed brain. When l wa!
within foot or two Of the tree, the tigel
made great bound, seized me in her jaw
and carried me back to the spot whence
had started.
why" thought to myself, "this is JUS
exactly the way n cat plays with amouse.
At the same moment cloud seemed tt
roll off my brain. No words of mine cal
describe the measureless and sickening hor
ror of that moment when realization wa.
thus suddenly flashed upon me.
At the shock my rifle slipped from my re
Taxing fingers, but recovered it desperate
ly, with a sensation as if had been falling
over precipce.
knew now what wanted to do with it.
The suddenness of my gesture, however
appeared to warn the tiger that had yet .
little too much life in me. She growled
and shook me roughly. took the hint,
you may be sure, AID resumed my former
attitude of stupidity, but my faculties were
now alert enough and at the cruelest ten.
sion.
Again the cubs began mauling me. re
PEELED them gently, at the same time look.
ing to my rife. l saw that there was .
cartridge ready to be projected into tho
chamber. remembered that the magazine
was not more than half empty.
! started once more to crawl away, with
the cubs snarling over me and trying tc
hold me, and it was at this point that re.
allied that my left shoulder was broken.
Having crawled four Or five feet, let the
cubs turn me about, whereupon crawled
back toward the old tiger, who lay blink.
ing and actually purring. 1t was plain
that she had made q good meal not long be.
fore and was therefore in no hurry to dis.
patch me.
Within about three feet of the beast 4
striped fore shoulder 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 considered me past all posi-
bility of escape, for her eyes rested as much
upon her cubs as upon me-
The creatures were tearing at my legs,
but in this supreme moment never thought
of them. had now thoroughly regained
my self control.
Laboriously, very deliberately, got my
sight and covered spot right behind the
old tigress' fore shoulder, low down. From
the position was in, knew this would
carry the bullet diagonally upward through
the heart. I should have preferred to put
a bullet in the brain, but in my disabled
condition and awkward posture l could
not safely try it.
just as was ready one of the cubs got
in the way, and my heart sank. The old
tiger gave the cub a playful cuff, which
sent it rolling to one side. The next in
slant pulled the trigger-and my heart
stood still.
Ny aim had not wavered hairbreadth.
The snap of the rifle was mingled with a
fierce yell from the tiger, and the long
barred body straigh ,ened itself up into the
air and fell over almost on top of me- The
cubs sheered off in great CONSERVATION.
sat up and drew long breath of thank
full relief. The tiger lay beside me stone
dead.
was too weak to walk at once, 30 l
leaned against the body Of my vanquished
foe and rested.
must have lain there half an hour, and
my citation was rapidly subsiding before
the agony in my shoulder, when at last my
man, Gunjeet, appeared. tracking the IT,
gers traces with stealthy caution.
He had not waited to 90 for help, but
had followed up the beast without delay,
vowing to save me or avenge me before he
slept.
The cubs. on his approach, had run of