The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-01
BICYCLE VS.. TIGER.

was travelling through the large Malay
islands-Java and Sumatra-in company
with tho Dutch geographer Nicer and our
geologist Roussello. We were going down
the river Banvyan Assim through the
heart of formidable forests and tracts Of
country as much to be dreaded rs those
that Rama pictures to his divine wife.
Huge orooodiles lie sleeping In the creeks
and on the low promontories. On the edge
Of the thicket appears the massive profile
Of the rhinooeros Of tertiary descent; the
monkey goes soampering of to lesfy, ga.
YaDnalike stretches, and everywhere may
be seen the lordly tiger, the tragic king Of
the jungle, vanquisher still of the new
conner, the Monaghan and the feeble Hin.
doc shorn Of his pristine Aryan strength.
We landed one evening at clearing
called Nieuwenhuys, settled by dozen
Netherland planters with their army Of
Chinese and Malay servants. The planta-
tions, which are large-about two miles
gantic, virgin forest. The village proper
Is fortified against tigers, because In 1871
and 1853 they attacked and devoured the
Maiays who had settled there.
We were most sunptuously entertained
at the home Of Mijaher Vanden Ouwe-
landt His chateau was built Of wood.
We were seated on the verandn, enjoying
one Of those evenings In which perfumod
night Is mingled with the glowworm'
light and tho mystic course Of the stars as
they fall like drops Of fire into the clepsy-
dra of the infinite. Great meteors, shoot
ing at intervals across the sky. seemed
like signals from some ship furrowing an
ocean of ether. The forest lifted Its
strange, wild voice in oeaselsss drama
herbivora groaning In terror, beasts Of
prey roaring In rage, yelling In victory.
"Do the tigers here often carry of
mem" asked Of our host between two
hunting tales.
ono; three or four perhaps In ten years.
In the first place they no longer try to at
tack the village They havo come to rec
ognize very clearly that 1t is beyond their
strength. All animals, you see, would
learn to respect human life II they were
trained properly. That is SO true that for
q long, long time no Netherland planter
who has been here more than two years
has been attacked. On the other hand,
tho Chinese, the Malay, the inexperienced,
have to look out for themselves. If we
had known how to manage differently,
beasts hostile to our kind would long since
have disappeared"
"However, tigers arc numerous about
herep"
"The forest swarms with them. I would
not recommend an excursion near its bor-
ders even in broad daylight"
Wo remained some time longer, drink
Ing coffee by the light of some blue lamps
that cast siokly glow on the night, and
then were able to reposo.
When rose next morning, our host was
In the fields. After cup Of tea found
myself strolling about the place. ! was
hesltating between taking walk In the
neighborhood and arranging package of
accounts whom my attention was attracted
to an A No. bicycle under shed.
recognized 1t as one of the finest and
best known Of American makes. Now
had not mounted since had broken my
machine In the excursion near Malacca. !
am, as you know, passionateiy fond Of the
wheel. do not say 1t to boast, but won
the prize in match against Banker. At
the sight of this splendid machine I was
seized with ono of those cravings that the
real bicyclist shares with the habitusl
smoker or morphine taker. At first re-
sisted. Then drew the bicycle slowly to-
ward me and mounted, intending to take
only short ride. The road before the
house was quite good. 1t had been begun
by the Malnys who had been deyoured,
and finished by the Netherland colony.
started off delightfully."-, spinning along as
though in race. Positively 1t was per-
feet machine-obodient responsive, fast.
My desire became irresistible. and sure of
being excused by my amiable host away
went flying through the rico and coffee
fields.
In few minutes l had covered the five
or six kilometers that separated me from
the forest. found myself in sea of YER
dure trembling In tho light morning
breeze. I recalled my hosts suggestion,
but that sort of feeling of stupid security
born Of perfect health, the beauty of the
day, the slightly Intoxicating effect Of the
atmosphere, prevented me from needing
1t. The remembrance, coming and going,
was like presentiment flashing upon one
with the rapidity of lightning and in an
instant gone.
I was fascinated by the spot dis
mounted to enjoy more freely its seductive
charms. Trees, stamped with tho seal Of
ages, rampant lianas, flowers bewildering-
ly, dazzlingly beautiful sang to me ont of
the grind, mysterious anthem OF those
primitive days when man wandered like
POOR frugivorous beast through the forests
and over tho plains A small lake, softly
shaded by overhanging branches, was ra-
dinnt with the lotus and lily, q sweet sym
Dol of happiness as 1t seemed to me then.
l seated myself on granite rock, and
was lost In the eternal, pantheistio dream
In which one loves to forget for moment
his own personality In his contemplation
Of the vast. vague universe.
While thus occupied, some branches
cracked ard something at the same time
heavy and light cleared passage to the
edge Of the water. My heart stopped beat
ing. I was In an agony of fear. Thirty
steps away monstrous beast, the king of
the carnivora, had just sprung from the
shade. For moment the elegant silhou
otto Of tho tiger remained motionless. He
was certainly colossus of his kind. Con-
cpa lad nv txyo or three fall droOpipO