The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-09-29

0&7MzzMWS%%SSS shaker, to the
0V 00V w days when 1 be-
came the proud possessor of one of
the first "safeties" ever made, / re-
veled in the enchanting pastime, spend
ing hours on the back of my steel
steed, thus putting my physical powers
long way ahead of my mental. In
fact, hated the sight of book, and
was never happy unless "scorching"
through the country on my bicycle.
My father was a doctor in an Eng
ish village, and having large family,
he was thankful indeed when, at the
age of nineteen, o commission was OBJ
tanned for me by a wealthy friend in a
regiment about to sail for India.
A grand new bicycle was my fathers
parting present, and great was my de-
light at finding that another young
"sub" in my regiment was also BIZ
cyclist
In these days, when the bicycle has
so many votaries, this may seem
nothing strange; but to realize my
surprise and pleasure, you must re-
member that bicycle was then a
comparative curiosity, and q bicyclist
a person to be stared at and admired
or otherwise Our bicycles were. /
believe, the first ever seen in India;
aud as we rode together in the town,
some days after our arrival, one would
have thought it was the triumphal
entry of some Eastern potentate.
could fill book with the curious
incidents and accidents which befell
us going cup country" Our regiment
was always on the move, and panics
of one kind or another were very fire.
quent on our bicycling excursions.
One evening, after mess, Fred and ]
signed articles to ride ten mile race.
There was grand native road with
in short distance of our camp, run.
ming away for ten miles as fiat as q
drawing board. 1t lay through the
open plain, and then deserted tract
was reached, becoming wilder as this
road proceeded, and finally swallow
ing it up in an impenetrable Jungle
1t was on this road l intended
to train. Fred had found circular
path round some native huts
short way from the station, measur
ing about six laps to the mile, anC
there he prepared himself for the com
ing struggle.
After week Of such training a
would make q modern athletes hal
stand on end-meat almost raw
chopped very finely, etc.-we con
sidered ourselves fit for the contest
aud the adventure am about to relat
occurred the evening before the rae
day. was just starting for last rid
over my favorite training course, whel
an officer stopped me and said:
'HGve you heard of the tiger, Har
vieP"
"No," answered.
"The natives have just brough
word that some tiger is marked dow
in jungle about ten miles from here
80 don't go too far, this evening""
can right" 1 laughed; 81 think
tiger would find it difficult matter t
catch me-my training would tell o
him."
1 had not seen any large wild beas
as yet, and my notion of a tiger was
thin, sleepy looking animal, such as
had once seen in travelling menal
eiie.
Away rode, my comrades cautio
forgotten before had gone mile.
started at a good pace, but nC
racing, as intended to do all kne
coming home. In an hoU
1 reached my usual haltin
place, ten miles from the camp; br
this being the last night of my trair
ing, l made up my mind to rid
another couple of miles, and then d
the whole distance back at "scorcl
ing" pace.
rode on, and in another ten mil
utes found myself in the jungle.
I Now for the race home.
Dismounting, oiled my maohin,
frightened up every screw, and the
sat down ON bowlder to rest and eI
JOY the prospect, A beautiful scene
+ was, too!
3 Above me lose the grand moui
tains; their snowy tops blushir
crimson in the setting sun; here
, waterfall, like u thread of gold AT
d silver, flashing down the mounta
I side and twining in and out among Il
a masses of trees and rocks; there,
/ glimpse of fairylaud through a iunt
vista
J Bnt now the shadows were deepe
2. ing, the crimson on the mountain to-
: had disappeared, and the snow beg
g to look gray aud CHASTITY. A hyil
fox went rustling past me, and
. hastily prepared to mount; for the
T is soarceiy any twilight in India, al
S knew it would soon be dark.
e As rose my eyes encountered SON
:, thing which made me start and neal
: drop my bicycle.
> There, not forty yards of, was
n tiger. Iknew the animal we'll enoup
Int how different he looked from I