Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1895-06-06


beast, though It usually prcys, wa
told by Sumatra hunters, only upol
birds. monkeys, the young of deer ant
other weak animals
When the little flower piclscrs 90
close TO the supposed dog, hlian said
"Why. Lulu, that Is not dog at oil
II looks like sonc OF the wild beast
I've seen in picture books. See how l.
back is bristling and its tail putin,
out, just like our old cat when she
angry; and OIL It's beginning to snar
and growl, too. Let's run away.
might cat us upl"
But So soon as the child rem turned
TO fly, the rimau dahan, which would
probably have itself retrented In an
other moment, took courage, and, will
a long, light bound, pounced upor
them, knocking both down with tive
apparently playful taps Of its fore
paws, In which, as yet, It kept IT.
formidable claws completely sheathed
. Then, seemingly delighted with such
novel game, the sporti,c creature be
gan to leap and frisk bout, exactly a.
does the domestic cat when tantalizine
captive mouse. Sometimes, after
crouching low, II would spring fal
above the heads OF the PROSTATE little
ones; at other tines II would lie down
with paw u.loa each, and graciously
purr, as II fondling Its own young
again, II would roll them gently owe,
and over, wondering, perhaps, wha,
their outward covering - neither fur
nor feathers-could possibly be.
At first the poor children were SC
paralyzcd with fright that they could
not cry out, but soon both began to
scream: Papa, papal papal Come,
come; oh, come quick"
So far from frightening the "tiger,
these cries seemed merely to make II
angry. II began to handle the captives
little more roughly, sometimes pro.
truding its claws, and switching its
great tail eXcitedly from side to side.
Though certainly not hungry, the
terribly beautiful beast was gradually
giving way to its fierce instinct, and
the danger Of the helpless infants was
now imminent, for II, while repeatedly
hooked into their clothing, whenever
they attempted to rise, the sharp talons
should chance to draw blood, all would
be over in u moment.
This strange situation had lasted,
Lillian thought, about fifteen minutes;
she and Lulu exhausted by screaming
were pi.ifully claspcd in each others
arms, and the rimau dahan, no longer
irritated by their cries, stood a few
feet away, attentively watching them,
when, swift as falcons swoop,
Ernest Mowbray and his trained Arab
dashed from out the encircling wood,
and, before the great spotted cat could
escape, rode straight over it and hurled
it, now screeching with rage, to the
ground.
But by the time the gallant pair had
checked their headlong speed and
turned around, the terror-stricken
beast had sprung into the fork of a
wild orange tree, which was precisely
what Ernest wanted, as he had feared
to fire at IL while In such close prox-
unity to the children, lest, being not
killed by the first shot, it
might, in its death struggles. do them
n mischief
Now, however, still sitting In the
saddle, he raised his rifle, took DELHI
crate aim at spot just below the ami
mails ear, and pulled the trigger. No
need for the second cartridge, which
he instantly threw up to the breech
chamber; for rifleman who had
parked" tiny red squirrels in the tops
Of Ohio and Kentucky h!ckories was
not likely to miss so fair mark as
this The bullet, striking square end
true, passed clear through tho crea-
lures brain and, without so much &c
4 single ni-aou, it dropped to the earth,
stone dead!
Then, hurriedly dismounting, Tho
,oung sportsman ran to assist the lit
lie girls, finding, to his great Joy, that
neither was at all hurt. The uncon-
'entional little misses had not learned
low to faint, and, beyond the soilipg
If their dainty frocks and the stain of
ears on their pale checks, were none
he worse for their pcrilous adventure.
After both had shudderingly'admired
he brilliant coat of their late enemy,
md Lillian had at least tried to thank
heir rescuer, the latter, henceforth a
zero in their eyes, escorted them home;
where, in answer TO Mr.. and Mrs.
grateful Acknowledgements,
lie modestly said
II am the one who ought to be thank
ul; for, besides the happiness OF help
ng these young ladies, have secured
rare trophy-one l never should have
'ot but for them"
THAT reminds me-" said Mr.. Sher-
wood, that the valuable pelt may be
amaged by birds or beasts Of prey II
eft long where it is" And, mounting
lis own horse, he rode speedily back
With Ernest to the scene of the en-
ounter.
Fortunately, the "tiger's" carcass
'as still untouched, and Mr.. Sher-
rood, a veteran hunter, quickly re-
,oved the beautiful hide, with head,
laws and tail complete. Next day I
ifercd the boy forty dollars for it; but
cry naturally, considering its rarity
nd the incidents of its acquisition, he
aid that mo amount Of money could
ny ia speech which rather pie ased
lie than otherwise, as proving the
ovth to be as true gentleman as
,ortsman.
Before leaving the country, however,
myself was lucky enough to shoot q
cry fine rimau dahan. and l yet have
s gorgeously handsome skin.
The strange meeting of their, chill
ZEN, Of course, led to an immediate
timacy between the Mowbrays and
intimacy doubtless con-
pued to this day, as both families, I
,licve, still reside in Sumatra- w.
thompson, In N. Y. Independent
Daughter 81 love him. He 10