Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-10-14
Misetllaneu1ts geading.
At PLAY WITH A TIGER.

AT PLAY WITH A TIGER.
We were travelling along the north
branch of the Gadavey river-some-
times upon its banks, and again cou-
pie of miles from the water, sometimes
travelling five or six miles day, and
again halting for couple of days to
fish and shoot-when most singular
incident befell me individually.
| had left the camp at an early hour
in the morning for the purpose of
fishing. While carried my rifle with
me, 1 had no intention of going out of
my way to find game. On the previous
Afternoon had observed what seemed
to be capital spot in the bend of the
river, and it was to this Place I hasten
ed as left camp. Some of the native
servants were astir and saw me set
out; but did not want their services.
1t was a pretty thick jungle between
the camp and the bend, but at the
bend there was a clear spot of an acre
in extent, with heavy forest growth
and led ge of rock for background.
AS took look around before sit
ting down on the bank to my sport, 1
remarked that it was good spot for
wild beasts, but as there was nothing
moving, went right to work with my
fishing tackle. Catching a frog for
bait, flung in the hook, and it wasn't
live minutes before ! was meeting with
such luck that all thoughts of tigers,
snakes, jackals, and hyenas were
driven out of my mind.
I had landed half q dozen good
sized fish, and was just then playing a
larger one, when slight noise star
tied me, and 1 looked around to see
such sight as has seldom come to the
eyes of sportsman. A full-grown
tiger was within five feet of me, play
ling with one of the fish. 1t was the
last one pulled out, and in its dying
agonies it was jumping about on the
grass. Every time it would move the
tiger would reach out paw in aplay-
full way, and once or twice he struck
hard enough to move the fish three or
four feet.
1 tell you I was a badly frightened
man, and all I could do was to sill
there with mouth and eyes open.
The tiger had crept down from the
bluffs, and why he hadn't attacked me
was mystery. He went from fish to
fish, turning them over with his paw,
and time and again brushing me with
his tail as he moved about. My rife
was 10 feet away, leaning against a
bush, and I might have been idiot
enough to try and reach it but for a
warning.
My personal servant had followed
me to see what luck 1 had. He came
Into the neighborhood while the tiger
was playing with the fish, and softly
climbing a tree, he uttered the call of
a bird to. attract my attention, and
then sang out: "Do nothing to pro-
woke the tiger, master. He is hilo-
weele, and if you do not cross him he
will 20 away" He meant that the
spirit of good nature had been trans
formed, and it was clearly the COM
nonsense way to follow his advice.
AS the beast gave me no attention, l
turned to the fish tugging at the end
of my line, and landed him. We was
of good size and full of vitality, and
the tiger waited in a playful way until
1 removed the hook and threw the fish
on the grass. Then he sprang for it
as kitten would for a ball of yarn,
and he played with it in the same way.
1t was laughable, in spite of the cir
cumstances, to witness his actions.
He would run around in circles, as
you have seen young dog do, some.
times almost leaping over me, and
then again he would become the cat,
and creep softly forward to pounce
upon one of the fish. Each one as
caught was flung to him, and it was a
full half hour before he grew tired Of
the sport. I expected he would turn
to me sooner or later, but the native
saw the change of demeanor first, and
called, "Master, the hiloweele is going
to play with you. Be as clay in his
power"
The tiger suddenly left the last fish
landed and came stalking over to me-
purring like cat and acting very
playfully. His first move was to worm
his head in under my left arm, and
am telling you the solid truth when
say that l smoothed down his fur as il
he had been a favorite dog. had on
a big straw hat, and this he got hold
of in his teeth, and played with it fol
10 minutes, or until he had torn it all
to pieces. had no bait and sat there
waiting for the tigers next move.
When he had finished the hat, he
came over and rubbed his head against
me, and purred in pleased way, and
I rubbed him with my hand from nose
to tail. I gradually got over my scare
but was yet very anxious to know how
the affair would end. The sun was
getting we'll up and very hot, and the
beast would soon be seeking his lair
In about 80 minutes from the time he
appeared the tiger began TO show 8
change of demeanor. He became
nervous and uneasy, and the hair on
his back stood up at intervals.
Judged that he had got the scent oI
my servant, and such proved to be
the case.
, dared not rise to my feet, but
made up my mind that if the tiger
attacked me 1 should make spring
off the bank into the river. 1t was
infested with crocodiles, but there was