The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-03-17

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Jungle which they supposed was the tigers
habitat, tethered the bullock in small
open space perhaps 100 yards wide, and
then bolted precipitately for safer regions
We three then disposed ourselves around
the edge Of the clearing, about thirty
yards apart, being in the middle, and
awaited results.
There was au oppressive silence and my
nerves became strung TO their highest ten
sion az listened with strained ears for the
slightest sound. and peered anxiously in
every direction. Presently o murderous
roar broke upon the stiffness, followed i'm
mediately by low cry which came from
Lewes' direction. The cry seemed as though
II had been suddenly suppressed or cut
short, and Ii was with the gravest forebod-
ings that made hurriedly toward the spot
In which knew he had concealed himself.
When | reached II my worst fears were
realized. There was my poor comrade
lying face downward, with the tiger stand
ing over him. | had approached quite
close, and Cole had done the same from the
opposite direction. Even at that moment
could see by his terror stricken counte
nance that he feared the worst However,
this was no time for delay or thought !
raised my rifle and sighted for the tigers
heart. Just az did 30 the beast, which
had perceived Coles approach, launched
itself at him. and though my shot told it
was not fatal,
For moment feared there was going
to be second catastrophe, but ball from
his rifle, which we afterward found had
entered his wide open jaws and raked him
almost Ito put il in nautical phrase) from
stem to stern, stopped him short and laid
him dead at my companions feet. We
now hastened TO Lewes' assistance, but all
our efforts to restore him were unavailing.
Indeed we should never have attempted II
had we not been dazed by grief and sorrow,
for the poor fellows skull had been frac
tured like an eggshell by a blow Of the
man eaters paw. Long we struggled,
frantically but despairingly, to bring back
some sign Of life, making use Of such
means as were at our disposal and which
our limited knowledge Of surgery war
ranted, but at last the conviction forced
itself upon us that all was useless, and w
sadly desisted
Cole returned to the village for assist
ance while kept long and gloom.
watch by the corpse. Poor Lewis bod.
was taken to the hospital, and all tina
could be- done to render the sight Of 1t les
distressing was performed there, and tn,
cruel duty Of informing his wife Of he
loss deyolved upon me, for, having per
suaded him to undertake the expedition,
felt myself bound TO do that which ever.
one else shrank from doing. shall neve
forget her CHEEKY invitation to enter as
knocked at her sitting room door, or he
bright smile Of welcome as she asked M
to be seated
80 you're back" she said. did yol
kill the tiger, Captain Fraserf And, b,
the way, what have you done with m,
Charlie"
Then suppose she must have notices
something unusual in my face, for sh
sprang from her seat and clutched me con
vulsively by the arm, crying pteously
AOh he's not hurtP For Gods sake, 20,
he's not hurt
But why tell any moref ] broke II I
her as tenderly, as gently as ! could.
Over the corpse Of his friend Captail