Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-10-28


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, L hated the sight of book, and
was never happy unless "scorching'
through the country on my bicycle.
My father was doctor in an Eng
lish village, and having large family,
he was thankful indeed when, at the
age of nineteen, commission was OBJ
tGined for me by wealthy friend in u
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 q
comparative curiosity, and a bicyclist
person to be stared at and admired
or otherwise. Our bicycles were, /
believe, the first ever seen in India;
and 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.
L could fill book with the curious
incidents and accidents which befell
us going "up 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 1
signed articles to ride ten mile race.
There was a grand native road with
in a short distance of our camp, run
ming away for ten miles as fiat as
drawing board. 1t lay through the
open plain, and then a deserted tract
was reached, becoming wilder as the
road proceeded, and finally swallow
ing 1t up IN an impenetrable Jungle.
1t was on this road L intended
to train. Fred had found q circular
path round some native huts a
short way from the station, measur-
ing about six laps to the mile, and
there he prepared himself for the com
ing struggle.
After n week of such training as
would make n modern athletes hair
stand on end-meat almost raw.
chopped very finely, etc.-we con-
sidered ourselves fit for the contest; :;
and the adventure am about to relate
occurred the evening before the race
day. [ was just starting for q last ride
over my favorite training course, when
an officer stopped me and said:
"Haye you heard of the tiger, Har
vie?"
No." l answered.
1.-The natives have just brought
word that some tiger is marked down
in a jungle about ten miles from here :;
SO don't go too far, this evening"
"All right" I laughed; 81 think n
tiger would find it difficult matter to
catch me-my training would tell on
him."
l had not seen any large wild beast
as yet, and my notion of tiger was
thin, sleepy looking animal, such as I
had once seen in travelling menag-
eIie.
Away I rode, my comrades caution
forgotten before 1 had gone mile.
[ started at good pace, but not
racing, as 1 intended to do all knew
coming home, In an hour
1 reached my usual hating
place, ten miles from the camp; but
this being the last night of my train
ing, [ made up my mind to ride
another couple of miles, and then do
the whole distance back at a "scorch-
ing" pace.
L rode on, and in another ten min
utes found myself in the jungle.
Now for the race home.
Dismounting, L oiled my machine.
tightened up every screw, and then
sat down on bowlder to rest and en-
Joy the prospect. A beautiful scene it
was, tool
Above me rose the grand noun
tains; their snowy tops blushing
crimson in the setting sun; here a
waterfall, like n thread of gold and
silver, flashing down the mountain
side and twining in and out among the
masses of trees and rocks; there, q
glimpse of fairyland through a iunge
vista.
Bnt now the shadows were deepen
ing, the crimson on the mountain tops
had disappeared, and the snow began
to look gray and ghastly. A flying
fox went rustling past me, and |
hastily prepared to mount; for there
is scarcely any twilight in India, and
l knew it would soon be dark.
As L rose my eyes encountered some
thing which made me start and nearly
drop my bicycle.
There, not forty yards off, was a
tiger. Iknew the animal we'll enough
hnt hpyu litTarapt h. L.