The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-04-10

I've seen IN picture DOORS, See NOW
it's back is brstlng and its tail putting
out, just like our Did cat when she's
hungry; and oh it's beginning to
snarl and growl, too. Let's run away.
1t might eat us up
But so soon as the children turned
to fly, the rimau dahan, which would
probably have itself retreated in an
other momen', took courage, and, with
long. light bound, pounced upon
them, knocking both down with two
apparently playful taps of its forepaws,
in which, as yet, ii kept its formidable
claws completely sheathed.
Then, seemingly delighted with such
novel game, the sportive creature be-
gan to leap and trsk about, exactly as
does the domestic cat when tantalizing
captive mouse. Sometimes, after
crouchiug low, it would spring far
above The heads of the PROSTATE little
ones; at other times it would lie down,
with paw upon each, and graclously
purr, as if fond!ng its own young;
again, it would roll them gently over
aud over, wondering, perhaps, wha
their outward coverng-neither fur no
feathers-could possibly be.
AT fret the poor children were so
paralyzed by fright that they could
not cry out, but soon both began to
scream: Papal Papal Papa Come,
come; oh, come quickl
So far from frightening the "uger,"
these cries seemed merely to make it
angry 1t 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 if, while repeatedly
hooked into their clothing, whenever
they attempted to rise, the sharp tai
ons should chance to draw blood, all
would be over in moment
This strange situation had lasted,
Lillian thought, about fifteen minutes;
she and Lulu, exhausted by screaming,
were pitiiully clasped in each others
arms, and the rimau dahan, no longer
irritated by their cries, stood few feet
away, attt nt!vely watching them, when,
swift as a falcons swoop, Ernest Now
bray 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 it while in such close proX-
unity to the children, lest, being not
instantly killed by the first shot, it
might, in its death struggles, do them
mischief.
Now, however, still sitting in the
saddle, he raised his rifle, took delib-
crate aim at spot just below the ami
malls ear, and pulled the trigger. No
need for the second cartridg4, which
he instantly threw to the breech cham
Der; for rifleman who had " barked !"
tiny red squirrels in the tops of Ohio
aud Kentucky hickories was not likely
to miss so fair a mark as this. The
bullet, striking square and true, passed
clear through the creatures brain and,
without 80 much as single mi-aou, it
dropped to the earth, stone dead "
Then, hurriedly dismounting, the
young sportsman ran to assist the lit
tie girls, finding, to his great joy, that
neither was at all hurt. The uncon-
ventional little misses had never learned
how to faint, and, beyond the solling OF
their dainty frocks and the stain of
tears on their pale cheeks, were none
the worse for their perilous adventure.
After both had shudderingly admired
the brilliant coat of their late enemy,
and Lillian had at least tried to thank
their re cuer, the latter, henceforth
hero in their eyes, escorted them home;
where, in answer to Mr.. and Mrs. Sher-
woods grateful Acknowledgements, he
modestly said:
81 an the one who ought to be
thankful; for, besides the happiness of
helping these young ladies, have Sc
cured rare trophy-one never should
have got but for them"
That reminds me, said Mr.. Sher-
wood, "that the valuable pelt may ne
damaged by birds or beasts of prey if
left long where it is" And, mounting
his own horse, he rode speedily back
with Ernest to the scene Of the en-
counter.
Fortunately, the "tiger's carcass
| WAS SllIl uuIOuCleu, anu MI. Ouol Woou,
veteran hunter, quickly removed the
beautiful hide, with head, claws and
tail complete. Next day | offered the
boy forty doll .rs for it; but, very nat
urally, considering its rarity and Incl
dents of its acquisition, he said that
"no amount of money could buy it -
speech which rather pleased me than
otherwise, as proving the youth to be as
true a gentleman as sportsman.
Before leaving the country, how
ever, | myself was lucky enough to
shoot very fine rimau dahan, and l
yet have its gorgeously handsome skin.
The strange meeting of their chill
dren, of course, led to an immediate
intimacy between the Mowbrays and
Sherwoods-an intimacy doubtless con-
tinued to this day, as both families, l