St. Landry democrat., 1894-01-20


the coolies crept away. while Oomerkahr
caught some of the blazing sticks, threw
them directly into the mouth Of tn
cave and sprang back. He was nont
too quick. | saw the barra saheb's rife
leap to his shoulder His acute ear haG
caught change in those deep. rumb
ling notes to which we were becoming
| accustomed.
In his haste the Hindu had stumbled
and fallen upon his back The next in
Stant the very ground seemed to shake
as the air had trembled before. There
was terrific crash, like sharp peal o.
thunder. A huge form burst from tht
shubbery half concealiug the entrance
to the cave and royal Bengal tiger was
literally gliding through the air. He
| swept like dark cloud over the darling
flames and PROSTATE form of Oomerkshn.
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 leaping toward NE. He
| could not by any possibility reach me,
yet the sound Of that roar aud 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 Ii
,,S& T.,
blank establishment 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 q
wild yell, the tiger struck the ground
not five feet from where the barra saheb
had stood. For moment it lay coiled
where it fell, q 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 lifeless
mass.
l 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 q 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 afterward.
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 I was sud
denly reused by a shrill shrek from the
elephant, accompanied by quick jerk,
a sharp 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 l saw
was a tiger in midair, apparently flying
directly toward me-
Altogether the situation was thorough.
ly bewildering, and confess that from
the start my wits forsook me.
AhaHhS W tHc suuutu lufCl VI Tie etc-
plant, 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.
HELL begin to climb in second"
my friend shouted, hurrying on behind, |
while my own elephant moved faster and
'aster 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 cowardice,
hough l have met many old tiger !
hunters who have recounted the same |
experience at the start-yet, had it not
'een for that warning call from my
riend, positively doubt If | should !
lave once thought of my rifle. As it
vas, lifted it mechanically to nv
boulder. | did not trouble myself about
he aim, for I could not take my eyes
rom that savage face. / was thoroughly I
''eeEE94!mDed and 5ewildered My hand
hook SO that more than once my finger
Tipped from the trigger before mustered
trength enough to pull.
The moment the report sounded the
1ahoot turned the elephant sharply to
ne side. That is one of the common
equations of tiger hunting with ele
'hants, when the tiger 10 lodged, in
rider to throw him off before he can do
ny damage in case be is not instantly
illed. 1t was new to me, however, and
was not prepared for it, As the tiger
ell to the ground, with fierce howl, l
anne within an inch of following him.
fortunately, landed upon the very edge
the howdah and held on.
The mex knew my friend was shout
ng again.
My wounded. He'll spring! Load quick
nd finish him the minute he lands.'
So long as l was not facing the tiger l
ould move quickly enough. fresh
artridge was in place in no time; but
10 elephant had not gone twenty feet
her the tiger lunged, tore the earth for
c instant, precisely as have seen cat
tempt to tear a rug, then made two cat ,
ke bounds and another flying leap, ,
nding, in spite of the elephant. within |
x inches Of the mahoot, sitting upon ,
Is head.
The native lost his turban and only
caped being trampled upon by dipping
OWN the elephants trunk. Beyond I
lat, however, the tiger did not pay him l
e slightest attention. His eyes were ,
red on me. He was making for the $
,wdah
His red and quivering gullet and glis- t
ming teeth were already on 4 level I
Ith my feet. l stood there petritied, f
oking down into that yawnipg cavern !