Washington sentinel., 1898-02-26
TT "a. SENTINEL
perraudinR the Tieer.

knew an old Shikari saws "A. |
Sarathkumer Ghosh in the Febru-
ary number of the C0yHktkI who
had fought many a battle with the
royal Bengal tiger. and had had
many a hairbreadth escape from
the latter's laws. When too old
TO carry on his campaigns, he de-
lighted in telling an admiring au-
dience, in his native village, all the
adventures OF his life; then, when
he waxed warm over the heroic
theme, he, like an old warrior,
would shoulder his cru ch (meta-
phorically, of course) and fight
anew the battles Of his youth. But
among these adventures, the FOL.
lowing is perhaps the most note
worthy.
One fine afternoon, having moth
ing better to do, he went out fish,
ing with half dozen of his friends
this is not going to be fish
story, but real live tiger story,
the 6shy part coming in only Incl
dentally. They chose a small river
a couple of hundred yards in
width. One bank Of the river was
fiat and open, but the other was
somewhat undulating and shrubby
80 in tact, it was adjacent to Jun
gle. The hshers sat in a row about
ten PAGES apart on the former bank;
each had loaded gun by his side
as a precaution against unwelcome
Bers. Now, our friend, who
a N seued to be situated at one ex-
RI fty Of the row Of fishers, had
negotiating very little busi-
for some time, when, feeling
d of holding his rod, he very
lurally laid it down by his side
for a moment TO have pull at his
hookah as a consolation for his i'll
luck. While engaged in this op-
Grafton he heard swish, and, turn
ing round, beheld his rod scud-
- ding along the surface of the water
like a racing yacht. Evidently it
was forty FOUNDER that had got
hold OF the other end OF the linel
Such catch was worth little ex-
ertion; so he plunged into the
water and struck out for the rod.
He came up with it almost al the
other side Of the river, but at that
instant terrific roar was heard, a
tiger leapt on the swimmer from
the neighboring bush, and was off
with him before his startled COM
panions could raise finger on his
behalt.
The shikari was a little stunned
by the tigers onslaught; he recov-
cred consciousness, however, in
few minutes, when ne found him
self lying on the tigers back and
in full sail towards the heart OF the
jungle. Fortunately, he was not
seriously hurt, as the tiger had
gripped him by the arm just above
the elbow. There he lay quite
helpless; what was he to dor ANY
movement on his part might have
made his condition far worse; so
he lay perfectly quiet, and shut his
eyes as il he were dead. Perhaps
he meditated on the happy home
ne had left behind-what his wife
and children would ieel when his
comrades broke the news. Soon,
however, the tiger arrived at his
den, which was no more than a
hollow scooped IN the sand at the
foot OF a large tree. There the
tiger deposited him and covered
him over loosely with some sand.
Luckily for him his face was up
permost when he fell, otherwise he
would have had no other alterna.
tive between death by suffocation
and death from the tiger if he had
dared to move. AS il was, he could
manage to breathe gently, and
even to have an occasional glimpse
under his eYelids. After this op-
Grafton Of partial burial, the tiger
ran ahead few yards, but returned
Instantly as If he had some misgiv-
ings in his mind. Seeing, however,
all safe, ne bounded forth, but
again returned to make assurance
doubly sure. He kept up this
method Of self persuasion for few
times, till, feeling quite certain
about the matter, he finally went
away on his mission. After wait
ing a few minutes to see that the
tiger had really gone, our shikari
sprang up and climbed the tree
just over the den, and hid himself
we'll among the leaves. He had
not long to wait for the denoue-
ment, for the tiger soon returned,
accompanied by a tigress and a
couple of cubs Clike a generous and
exemplary husband and father, the
tiger evidently scorned to eat on
the sly). They came along with
many joyful cat-like gambol in
anticipation of the great feast, and
found the den-empty! Such a
lamentation over the lost dinner
then arose as was never heard be-
tore in the whole animal kingdom;
in fact, the tigers persisted so long
in their piteous cries, that our shik-
ari began to have some doubts as
to the righteousness of defrauding
the poor creatures OF their hard
earned wages; but he was pre-
vented from Offering himself to
them in a moment of misguided
magnanimitY by the thought of his
own wife and children, whose claim
upon him was evidently higher.
At any rate, ne stuck in the tree all
night, as it was too risky to venture
out in the ensuing darkness; then
next morning, when the coast was
clear. he ded home TO tell me these