Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-09
In A TIGERS GRIP.


shoot. It was dismal place. Here and
there were clumps Of tail grass and BAN
hoo. with now aud then a 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 us l saw no sign OF
danger went on carelessly. ! was alone,
for had sent back my seryank TO find my
matchbox, which had left ae the place OF
my last halt but had no approximations,
for was near thepost, and the district was
one from which, as was supposed, the tigers
had been cleared out some years before.
Just rs was muslng upon this fact, with
q tinRe Of regret because l bad come too
late to have hand in the clearance, 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, 1t was
only for an instant When l opened my
eyes, WINS lying with my face in the sand.
Not knowing where was or whit had hap
pened, started to rise, when instantly
huge paw turned me over on my back, and
saw The great yellow green eyes OF tiger
looking down upon me through their mar
row black Sits,
did not feel horror stricken. In fnct, 40
far as | can remember, felt only dim
sense OF resignation TO the inevitable.
also remember that l noticed with curious
interest that the animal looked rather
gratiiled than ferocious.
don't know how long lay there, std
pldly gazing up into the brute's eyes, but
presently made n movement to sit up,
and then saw that l still held my rifle in
my hand. While was looking ut theweap-
on with vague, harassing sense that there
was something ought to do with it, tho
tiger picked me up by the left shoulder
and made OIL with me Into the Jungle, and
still chung to the rife, though had for
gotten what use should put 1t 10.
Having carried me perhaps half mile,
the brute dropped me, and raising her head
uttered peculiar, soft cry. Two cubs APP
! peared Mt once In answer TO the summons
and bounded up to meet her. At the first
! glimpse of me, however, they shcered oil 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,
| AZ last the youngsters suffered them.
selves to bo 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 n sense
Of pain. l threw of 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 salts.
faction.
lnstinctively crcpt toward n tree, and
little by little the desire for escape began
TO stir in my dazed brain, When was
within a foot or two of the tree, the tiger
made great bound, seized me In her Jaws
and carried me back to the spot whence
had started,
"Why," Thought to myself, "this is just
exnctly the way u cat plays with amouse.'
At the same moment cloud seemed "a
roll off my brain. No words Of mine car
describe the mensureless and sickening nor
ror of that moment when realization wa,
thus suddenly flushed upon me
AT the shock my rifle slipped from my re
laxing fingers, but recovered 1t desperate
", with aenaation ms IL had been falling
over n prccipice
knew now what wanted to do with IL
The suddonness OF my gesture, however
appeared to warn the tiger that had yet
little too much life in me She growlet
aud shook mo roughly. took the hint
you may be sure, and resumed my former
attitude Of stupidity butmy faculties wer,
now alert enough and at the oruelest zen
sion.
Again the cubs began mauling me, re
PEELED them gently, NJ the Same time look
/ ing to my rifle. | saw that there was
cartridge ready to be projected into thu
chamber remembered that the magazin,
was not more than half empty.
a started onct, Yuprp In crnNvl nxvnv Will
the cubs snarling over me and trying I,
hold me, aud 1t was at this point that re
allied that my left shoulder was broken.
Having crawlod four or five feet, 1 let til,
I cubs turn me about whereupon or,wlet
3 back toward tho old tiger, who lay blink
Ing and actually purring 1t was plair
that she had mado good meal not long be
fore aud was therefore in no hurry to dis
patch me
3 Within about three feet Of the beast
$ striped fore shoulder l stopped and fcl
I over on my side as II all but exhausted
4 My rifle barrel rested on little tussoclS
The beast moved her hend to watch me
but evidently considered me past all posi-
bility Of escape, for her eyes rested as mucl
upon her cubs M upon me.
The creatures were tearing at my legs
but this supreme moment never thought
!
my self control.
I Laborlously, very deliberately, got my
! sight and covered a spot right behind tn,
/ old tiggasi fore shoulder, low down From
l the position l was in, knew this would
s carry the bullet dlagonnlly upward tArouRl
the heart. l should have preferred to pu
a bullet in the brain, but in my disable
condition aud awkward posture coult
not safely try it,
just as | was ready one OF the cubs go
|, in the way, and my heart sank. The ole
tiger gave tho CUB a playful cuff, whicl
! sent 1t rolling TO one side. The next In
slant pulled the trigger-Rnd my hear
I stood still
= My aim had not wnvered hairbrendth
Tho snap OF the rifle was mingled with
d fierce yell from the tiger, and the Ions
. barred body Strengthened itself up into thl
air and fell over almost on top OF me. Tn,
cubs shcered of in great condemnation.
] sat upa and drew q long breath OF thank
full relief. The tiger lay beside me ston,
dead.
I was too weak 20 walk at once, so
/, leaned against the body OF my vanqulshet
foe and rested,
must have lain there half an hour, ant
my citation was rapidly snbsidinR bcfor
the agony in my shoulder, when AZ last my