The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-08-11

la11 he cried hoarsely. /
Have you seen Iali?" t
'No!" | replied almost in /
whisper. He did not wait, but i
sped away towards the SO called g
sheds, which were really j
caves cut in the solid rock beyond t
the Oak ] had become attached
to the child, whose marvellous
beauty had charmed and whose
wierd ways had mystifiedssae.
The coolies were flying hither
and thither, making the air ring
with their loud walls. Such agita-
tation on the part of these .vaga-
bonds reused me to q realization
of the child's danger. Suddenly
| turned my eyes and thoughts in
the direction of the ravine where
4he tiger trap lay. 1recalled WV
idly the child's interest in the
jungle god who was to be captur-
ed in the deep pit; and knowing |
the little creatures absolute fear
lessness thought that, acting upon
some childish impulse, she might
have strayed down the narrow
path to the pit. Meanwhile, the
wailing about me increased.
I dropped over the ledge, soon
reaching the pathway by short
route. AS 1 penetrated the jun
gle now suffused with mist in the
ruby glow Of the expiring day,
I realized with what risk to my
self I was entering this dangerous
spot all unarmed. I was still de-
batting whether or not to return
for weapon of defense, when, as
I leaped over soft spot in the
; red clay, I saw two footprints that
shot terror into my heart; one
was that of mammoth tiger, and
the other belonging to a little
child. I dropped down beside
= them. No. There was no mista.
l king them, SO clear and fresE
r were both. Then 1 crept forward
g scarcely daring to breathe, my
: heart beating faster and faster
a with apprehension.
d The distance to that tiger pi
4 seemed to be doubled, and tn
n time that elapsed before reachin
+ it everlasting.
is The cracking of the leaves an
G tw1gs on the moss beneath my fee
d added to my trepidation. Almos
l. before I realized it l had reache
o the big trap, and then halted shor
d thrilled by the sound of somethin
t, human. Looking ahead throug
Re the deepening mists and interver
rs ing boughs I saw the little chill
l. figure Of Iali creeping out upo
/. the withered branches over 4h
l. pit. For the instant [ had L
er power to move, nor dared | spea
lg lest, overcome with sudden frigl
7r the frail little one might lose he
ce foothold. Suddenly a new ho
G. ror disclosed itself. What we.
N those two glaring, cold, yet fiel
points just beyond the pit, bur
ing their way through the sh
p dows? It was the tiger.
n In moments like these ones re
G. soning powers become superb
er man. I saw that in all probabi
he ity either Iali or I was to be sac
ch feed, which one depended mere
he upon the caprice of the wild bea'
he | had heard that the calm, stea
MS fearless stare of a human is me
he terrifying to wild animals tn
wo guns that kill On the instan
til resolved to practice it; it was ]
to only expedient. So / started
he those two coldly bright and gle
ing points of light like a madm
ird Suddenly I saw the little fig
III waver on the dead branches O
ar the mouth of the pit, and tn
ION with the weak little cry poor
the had lost her foothold and slip
vas slowly through the yielding bou
out into the cave beneath. For a /
hat ment all was silent. Then / he
vas her childish prattle. The soft s;
ly: had broken Iali's fall and sa
nix, her life, while I was brought t
me to face with the most awful pl
. lem Of my life. For what seel
p hours I stood like pillar of ste
7 the perspiration pouring down
3 neck, my tongue hot and parcl
Z Suddenly, as l stood like on
! trance, facing this growing p,
d lem, was conscious of stir in
Z reeds and underbrush at my r
! hand. Though the sound Cal
. me to tremble, l dared no take
: eyes from the crouching mon
: beyond. The next instant a strs
2 huge shape crept stealthily on
Y the underwood and advanced
~ the clearing toward the pit-a
A9 derous black monster. It W