The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-07-24
As little Iali was the innkeeper's

capturing tuc lOul jungle Soo'
which facts, instead Of frightening the
child, only helped to increase the stock
Of her play gods and demons, which
she moulded deftly from the red clay
of the ravine. For two days nothing
was heard of the tiger, and Punda-
Tsang began to fear that he had gone
back to the hills by another route.
On the afternoon Of the third day
sat on the cliffs edge, watching the
mists rise from the roaring river
bottom, phenomenon wkich al
ways accompanies the closing
day. Suddenly there was q great
shutting Of sandals about the
compound, and I knew something ex-
traordinary was taking place. Turned
quickly; the big form Of Punde-Tsang,
the inn-keeper, burst upon me sud-
denly, his fiat face as pallld as
demons, ferocious, but with the Zero
city of nameless fear.
"Iali!' cried he hoarsely. "Have
you seen Ialin'
"No!" I replied, almost in whis-
per. He did not wait, but sped to-
ward the so-called bullock sheds,
which were really caves cut in the
solid rock beyond the Oak. [ had be-
como attached to the child, whose
marvellous beauty had charmed and
whose weird ways mystifed me.
The coolies were flying hither and
thither, making the air ring with their
loud walls. Such agitation on the part
of these vagabonds reused me to a
realization Of the child's danger.
Suddenly I turned my eyes and
thoughts in the direction Of the ravine
where the tiger trap lay. l recalled
wildly the child's interest in the
"jungle god" who was to be captured
in tue deep pit; and knowing the lit
tie creatures absolute fearlessness,
thought that acting upon some child
ish impulse, she might have strayed
down the narrow path to the pit.
Meanwhile the vailing about me in
creased.
I dropped over the ledge, soon
reaching the pathway by short route.
As I penetrated the jungle, now suf-
fused with mist in the ruby glow Of
the expiring day, I realized with what
risk to myself I was entering this dan
gerous spot, all unarmed. was still
debating whether or not to return for
weapon of defense, when, as leaped
over soft spot in the red clay, l saw
two footprints that shot terror into my
heart; one was that Of mammoth
tiger, the other belonging to little
child. I dropped down beside them.
No. There was no installing them, so
clear and fresh were both. Then I
crept forward, scarcely daring to
breathe, my heart beating faster and
faster with apprehension.
The distance to that tiger pit seemed
to be doubled, and the time that
elapsed before reaching it everlasting.
The cracking Of the leaves and twigs
on the moss beneath my feet added to
my trepidations. Almost before I re-
allied it T had reached the big trap,
and then halted short, thrilled by the
sound of something human. Looking
ahead through the deepening mists
and intervening boughs I saw the lit
tie child figure Of Iali creeping out
upon the witheced branches over the
pit. For the instant I had no power
to move, nor dared I speak, lest, over
come with sudden fright, the frail lit
tie one, might lose her foothold. Sud
denly new horror disclosed itself.
What were those two glaring, cold,
yet fiery points just beyond the pit,
burning their way through the shad-
ows? It was the tiger.
In moments like these ones reason.
ing powers become superhuman. /
saw that in all probability, either Iali
or I was to be sacrificed, which one
depended merely upon the caprice Of
the wild beast. I had heard that the
, calm, steady, fearless stare of human
is more terrifying to wild animals than
guns that kill. On the instant I re.
solved to practice it; it was my only
, expedient. So I stared at those two
! coldly bright and glowing points O
light like mailman.
, Suddenly I saw the little figure
, waver on the dead branches over thu
, mouth of the pit, and then, with {
t weak little cry poor Iali had lost he1
9 foothold and slipped slowly through
r the yielding boughs into the cave be
, meath. For a moment all was silent
, Then I heard her childish prattle
The soft sand had broken Iali's fal
Q and saved her life, while was brough
8 face to face with the most awful prob
d lem of my life. For whst seemed
hours I stood like pillax Of stone, tn
= perspiration pouring down my neck
4 my tongue hot and parched.
n Suddenly, as I stood like one in
; trance, facing this growing problem,
IL