Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-20

in the moonlight. This was a great and
terrible beast. and I remembered those
whom he had slain and Chetoo's blood,
which ] saw him drink
Here Lall Chowdar went off into a parox-
ysm of oriental colloquialisms that cannot
be quoted. Nevertheless. all this profanity
concealed a lurking feeling Of awe-struck
admiration. There Is not a Hindu between
the Himalayas and Cape Cormorin who. in
his secret soul, does not bow down to and
worship any incarnation Of irresistible DOW
er. Of blind. brutal, irresponsible ferocity
and ruthlessness.
The shikari went on to tell that while he
watched the panther stole toward the now
deserted pool. When he reached its brink
this wary beast took one more look around
before lowering his head to drink, and at
had crammed into his matchbox was poured
at close range into his side. Few men. 1t
may be hoped. can see one of the great
members of the cat mammalia in it's death
agony without some feeling of horror. They
are all alike in this hour, when desperation
and pain let loose the immitigabie savagery
of their race. Panthers, tigers, the lion
himself, majestic as he is with his noble at
t!tudes and sweeping name, fall now to one
dead level Of awfulness. Their voices, at all
times menacing. and often most awe-inspir-
ing, then burst forth in tones which are
positively uneartbly. 1t is not given to any
human being to paint in adequate words
that scene of Intellectual and dreadful effort,
those supreme expressions of baff1ed malice
and deadly rage. Such pictures as are dis
played at these times only rise before the
inexperienced during the sleep of fever, in
the distortions of delirium, or amid the
visions of madness. -,
The beast Was Dead.
II saw, thanks be to God" said Lall
Chowdar, that this destroyer of men would
row STAY no more. 1t was likewise clear
that the priest was, indeed, a holy person,
and his sacrifices not in vain. Nevertheless,
your servant remained upon the rock and
loaded his gun, because, sahib. these beasts
are capable of many things, and those who
are imbued with demons. die and come to
life again; but only for a space. This Is
certain, and have seen 1t. When / was a
boy and went with my father into the for
est after tiger, he shot this evil one from
a tree, and 1t persisted. We rejoiced thereat,
and my father said, when a tiger rears up,
striking the air In that manner. and rolls
over, tearing himself continually, truly a
man need fear him no more. Therefore We
approached with confidence to deprive him
of his skin; but he arose quickly and killed
my father; then he died.
at is known to all that some Of these
fierce ones come to life again. This Is be-
cause their bodies are the abodes Of evil
spirits. They need not be devils, sahib:
there are maglcians who, under pretense Of
being fakirs leading hermit lives. take after
death a tigers form; a panther's Also and,
sometimes. that of wolf. All such become
man-eaters. Even II a common beast de-
YOURS a human being, who will deny that the
spirit Of that person hates the living; that 1t
joins itself with the brute, rides upon its
head and guides this animal, who thereby
Is successful in Ubiquitous actions. There
fore, while the panther was rolling on the
earth, rending it and biting his paws, I shot
him again, and he lay still, but his skin
was spoiled.
II descended and came with precaution
to the spot. There was no breath to move
his ribs, and dark blood streamed from his
mouth. He was truly dead, and / cut off
the bristles growing on his lip, which give
success in love, and returned to the village.
Those who had cursed me, poured forth
praises. There was a feast, also and, more
over, reward"