The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-26

| glossy black, extending from the head
| to the root of the tail, which last is
very long and covered by dark rings,
| not greatly dissimilar to those of the
American raccoon. The creatures legs
are singularly powerful and it's talons
long and sharp, SO that, if so inclined.
| it can prove terrible foe to man or
beast, though it usually prcys, 1 was
told by Sumatra hunters, only upon
birds, monkeys, the young of deer and
| other weak animals.
When the little flower pickers got
close to the supposed dog, Lillian said:
why, Lulu, that is not dog ut ALL
1t looks like some of the wild beasts
I've seen in picture books. Sec how its
back is bristling and it's tail pulling
out, just like our old cat when she's
angry; and OIL it's beginning to snarl
and growl, too. Let's run away. 1t
might eat us upl"
But so soon Us the children turned
to fly, the rimau dahan, which would
probably have itself reiterated In an
other moment, took courage, and, with
o long, light bound, pounced upon
them, knocking both down with two
apparently playful taps of it's fore
PAWS, In which, as yet, it kept its
formidable claws completely sheathed.
Then, seemingly delighted with such
novel game, the sportive creature be-
gan to leap and frisk about, exactly rs
does the domestic cat when tantalizinp
q captive mouse Sometimes, after
crouching low, 1t would spring far
above the heads of the prostrate little
ones; at other times 1t would lie down,
with Il paw upon each, and graciously
purr, as if fondling its own Young;
again, it would roll them gently over
and over, wondering, perhaps, what
their outward covering neither fur
nor fcathers-could possibly be.
At first the poor children were so
paralyzed with fright that they could
not cry out, but soon both began to
scream; Papa, papa! papa! Come,
come; oh, come quicl"
So far from frightening the "tigcr."
these cries seemed merely to make it
angry. 1t began to handle the captives
a little more roughly, sometimes pro-
truding its claws, and switching it's
great tail cZcitcdly 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 if, while repeatedly
hooked into thcir clothing, whenever
they attempted TO rise, the sharp talons
should chance to draw blood, all would
be ever in n moment.
This strange situation had lasted,
lillian thought, about fifteen minutes;
She and Lulu exhausted by screaming
were pitifully claspcd in each others
arms, and the rimau dahan, no longer
irritated by their cries, stood a few
feet away, attentivcly Watching them,
when, swift us falcons swoop,
Ernest Mowbray and his trained Arab
dashed from out tho cncircling wood,
and, before the great spotted cat could
escape, rode straight over it and hurled
it, now scrccching with rage, to the
ground.
But by the time the gallant pair had
checked their hcadlong speed and
turned around, tho terror-striclsen
beast had sprung into tho fork of u
wild orange tree, which was precisely
what Ernest wanted, as he had feared
to fire ut 1t while in such close prox-
unity to the children, lest, being not
instantly killed by tho first shot, it
might, in it's death struggles, do them
a mischief.
Now, however, still sitting in the
saddle, be 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 tho breech
chamber; for riflcman who had
"barked" tiny red squirrels IN the tops
of Ohio and kentucky hickories was
not likely to miss SO fair mark as
this The bullet, striking square end
true, passed clear through the cren-
lures brain and, without so much a6
single mi-aou, it dropped to the earth,
stone deadl
Then, hurriedly dislnounting, +.ha
young sportsman ran to assist the lit
tie girls, finding, to his great joy, that
neither was at NIL hurt. The uncon-
ventional little misses had not learned
how to faint, and, beyond tho soiling
of their dainty froclls and the stain of
tears on their pale checks, were none
the worse for their pcrilous adventure.
After both had OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
the brilliant coat of their late enemy.
and Lillian had at least tried to thank
their rcscucr, the latter, henceforth Il
hero in their eyes, escorted them home;
where, in answer to Mr.. aud Mrs.
Shcrwood's grateful acknowledgements,
me modestly said:
II am the one who ought to bc thank
full; for, besides the happiness of help
ing these young ladies, have secured
rare trophy-one L never should have
got but for them"
THAT reminds me-" said Mr.. Sher-
wood, that the valuable pelt may be
damarcd hY birds or heaSts OF rarn1t Il