Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-22

the Cossacks to the spot. II his life was
in actual danger, he determined he
would use the weapon, not before. he
little thought how soon the alternative
would be presented
For five minutes or more the tiger
thrust his claws repeatedly into the
crevice. Then he drew off yard or &c
and sat on his launches, licking his
bloody nose and whining angrily.
Hope sprang up anon in Maurice's
breast, and he began to think that the
brute would leave him in peace. But
suddenly, with a hoarse growl. the t.
ger bounded forward again, and with
its powerful fore paws began to dig fu'
riously at the soft, miry clay about the
mouth of the hole. The loose chunks OF
dirt flew in every direction, and the
cavity grew larger every second.
In very short time the tiger would
be able to enter. Maurice realized that
if anything was to be done it must be
done at once
Either he must slay the animal at the
risk of being recaptured by the Cossacks
or he must be torn to pieces ana de-
voured. He chose the first alternative.
At that moment, face to face with the
brute's blcodshot eyes and lolling
tongue, even the mines of Kara seemed
preferable to snch death.
With some u.itticulty he drew the re-
volver from his belt and succeeded In
cooking it.
The tiger was still paving away
with undiminished energy, and even
now the cavity thus made seemed to
Maurice's eyes fully large enough to
admit the brute's head and shoulders.
Still, although in the very jaws OF
death, as it were, he hesitated to fire.
Then he remembered that, with ole
single spring. the tiger could reach
him, and in sudden terror he pointed
the revolver full at the savage eyes.
His finger was already pressing the
trigger when an inspiration flashed
into his mind that changed the whole
course of events.
"The pepperl he exclaimed aloud.
"I'Il try it. " And, lowering the weapon,
be thrust his hand into his coat pocket.
1t so happened that among the pro-
visions provided by the starosta had
been small bottle Of red pepper.
Platoff, with the Russian fondness
for fiery dishes, made frequent use OF
this on nearly everything he ate, and
that very morning, having forgotten 1t
when they left their camping place,
Maurice had picked it up and put it in
his own pocket. Now he suddenly re-
membered it. He gave sigh of relief
when his fingers closed on the bottle,
and, drawing it out, he pulled the cork
with his teeth.
The tiger suddenly suspended opera
tions and blew the dirt off his whiskers.
Now was the critical moment. Reach
ing out his arm, Maurice dashed half
the contents of the bottle into the
brute's very eyes.
The effect exceeded his highest an
ticipations. Sneczing and snarling in
one breath, the tiger sprang away from
the crevice and rolled in agony on the
ground, completely overcome by the
pungcnt dust.
Maurice held the bottle in readiness
for second onslaught.
Overjoyed at his success, he was
watching the brute's strange antics
when suddenly over the edge Of the
hill appeared the astrakhan cap of q
Cossack, speedily followed by the head
and shoulders.
Before he could see whether more
were behind rife cracked sharply
from some spot up among the rocks ap-
parcntly-and the Cossack toppled over
backward with cry of agony.
ToBE CONTINUED.