The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-07-07
begged, commanded that he take the

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Why? Only because he was q Mussul-
man. No matter how intense his agony
or determined my command he put his
well hand over his mouth and shook his
head. He felt sure that he was dying,
and he believed my assertion that the
whisky might ave him, but that made
no difference. He came so near to death
that he was past seeing anything and
beyond hearing. He lay upon the ground,
just breathing, painting, as though he
was almost at the end. 1t seemed useless
to try again, and yet, now that he was
unconscious, I could at least make a
last, desperate trial with the whisky.
The that it touched his lips, ne
struggled away, clutched his lips with
his hand and shook his head.
l believe the very fear that I should
succeed in giving him the whisky kept
its power. At all events he did not die.
Salad was as fond Of hunting as !.
Many a time We two slipped away from
camp in the gray of early morning.
Once, just before daylight, / was out
with my shotgun in a thinly wooded
jungle a mile from camp upon the
shore of a small lake, waiting for birds.
1t was just my luck. Because / came
prepared for birds, there was not one IL
sight, but three beautiful antelope came
down to drink within a hundred feet of
Us. / looked at the shotgun in disgust
Then looked again at the antelope. 1t
wa exasperating. was determined to
have a shot, It any rate, and in the hope
that l might stun one Of them or at least
bewilder him for an instant. | whisper
ed to Salad to be ready with his knife
and make a dash the moment l fred.
Cautiously | raised the gun to my
shoulder and was pressing the trigger,
when Salad touched me and whispered:
"Wait, sahibi Look there!'
l looked, and my shotgun fell. At q
slight angle, but little more than half
way between Us and the antelope, there
crouched Q loyal Bengal tiger. A single
glance was sufficient. He was surely a
nan eater. Evidently he had been Oh
the point Of satisfying his hunger with
an antelope when he caught sight of Us.
He was within an easy leap of the deer,
but was deliberately turning away and
facing u.s. The motion startled the deer,
and they bounded off, but the tiger paid
them no further attention. The hu~e
creature opened his great jaws till his
head seemed nothing but a red, yawn-
ing gullet bordered by long, ragged,
glistening teeth, and with a savage
snarl he began to approach Us.
There was no need of looking about
for a place Of safety. The jungle was
sparsely wooded at the best, and the
largest tree we had passed in coming
from camp would not have borne ever
Salads weight 10 feet from the
ground Salad had only his hunting
knife, / nothing but my shotgun.
Zone of US must 60, sahib," Salad
muttered, without taking his eyes from
the tiger. If we run together, we shall
both go. He will overtake us in a mo-
ment. Let Allah decide as it is written
in d foreheads Run that way for
your life, sahih. l will run this way.
Be quick, before he comes nearer!'
There was no time for thought. 1t
seemed a fair proposition, and even as
he spoke the Hindoo started at the top
of his speed away. 1t was useless stand
ing still or following him, and acting
upon his suggestion I started in the OPP
posite direction.
After running a rod or two I looked
over my shoulder The tiger had made
leap and was just landing, already
crouched for another spring. He was
following me!
l will not admit that I hoped he
would follow Salad, but l did hope that
he would not choose me. It amounted
to the same thing.
/ started on for one more desperate
struggle. | was doomed. I knew it per-
fectly well, yet while there is life there
is hope, and l ran as I never ran be-
fore. resolved to go as far as 1 could
and then wnirl about and give the tiger
a charge of fine shot full in the face. 1t
might put out his eyes. There was at
least that possibility to hang a desperate
hope upon, and throwing my gun to my
shoulder / turned. The tiger was not
there! Looking farther back, l saw his
tawny hide in the underbrush. Instant
~ it rose. He was making a leap, but
it was not toward me. One thrill Of
gratitude shot through my veins, when
my heart stood still with horror. There
was one sharp yelp a the huge form
swept through the air, and crushing the
leaves and branches as it fell landed up-
on the PROSTATE figure of Salad, silently
waiting for the blow.
l stood there petrifed, the cold per-
spiration dripping from my forehead.
There was not q sound from Salad.