St. Landry democrat., 1894-01-20
The TIGERS BREaTH.
BY HENRY W. FRENCH.

by HENRY W. FRENCH.
"Why do you put me up in a tree,
Oomerkahn, while the barra saheb stands
on the groundl Do you think me a
a coward?'
Oomerkahn touched his closed hands
solemnly to his dark forehead as he re-
piled, The bravest man, saheb, is not
safe to face the tiger, till he has felt the
tigers breath"
had heard that proverb before, but
never supposed that it really meant any
more than my own nursery rhyme about
salt on the dickey birds tail There
was no help for it, however, for Conner.
kahn was conducting the hunt. 30 &C
copied his proverb as a polite way of
assuring me that in reality he did not
consider me coward, and disposed of
myself upon the branch where he d.
rected, mentally resolving to be on the
alert till | showed the stately Hindu his
mistake. and then gave him piece of
my offended mind
This was my first experience, and
felt as brave as anyone has right to
under such circumstances. was q
novice in India and my host, the "barra
saheb," as he was called about his plan
tation, had taken me into the hills for An
initiation.
No sooner had we arrived at his plan
tation than there came an appeal from
the nearest village that he rid them of
"a q man-eating tiger that had settled in
their~neighborhood. Oomerkahn was
the natiVe-ssaperinteaseslt Ct hosts
farm and at once received his orders to
organize hunt
There were several guests, all we'll
mounted, and early in the morning we
rode out to the village. The tiger had
been located in jungle two miles away.
de had made an extraordinary raid the
night before, taking both man and
calf before he was satisfied, and there
was no doubt about finding him en-
sconced in his lair, sleeping off the
effects
Oomerkahn arranged us, first in half
circle, 200 yards from the Jungle, while
he, at the head of q hundred or more
natives, entered the dense grove from
the opposite side. They were the heaters,
and with sticks and torches and tom toms
and strong lungs they began the greatest
racket possible. They were arranged in
q long line and worked their way toward
us, intent on frightening the tiger out of
the jungle into our semi circle, where,
according to the position in which he
appeared, we were to have our turns at
shooting
1t was an hour of intense excitement,
each hoping the tiger would show him
self in his particular division, but the |
beaters came out without finding him at |
all: They were thoroughly exhausted |
and declared that the tiger was not there,
But | tell you that he is !" exclaimed |
our host, impatiently. "No tiger ever
started on pilgrimage after such a sup
per as he had last night
lie dlsmounted, and leaving his horse
with coolie he deliberately entered the
jungle on foot. Seeing this, we all fol-
lowed his example, in spite of caution
from Oomerkahn.
The barra saheb was an experienced
Tiger hunter and in haitian hour he
pointed to a dark spot under some bushes,
saying to coolic, Throw a stone in
there. (
The stone disappeared without strik-
ING anything.
There's ii hole there at all events"
The barra saheb muttered himself creep
ne. little nearer and throwing in
anger stone with all his strength.
Suddenly the air began to tremble..
There was no distinct sound, but it WAS
like the first breath of great organ
"He is there, said the barra saheb,
and ii was then that Oomerkahn hastily
placed his forces, which resulted in my
being safely lodged on the limb, with
what / considered doubtful compli-
ment.
Then the order was. given to burn him
out, and while Oomerkahn and one or
two coolies built fire as close to the
mouth of the cave as possible, the barra
saheb took position beside the trunk
Of tree directly in front and perhaps
ten feet away,
The jungle was 50 thick that not 1
ay of sunlight fell anywhere about Us.