The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-07
A FOREST DUEL.
Deadly Combat Between Tiger and
wild Bear in the Jungle.

Deadly Combat Between a Tiger and
"a Wild Bear in the Jungle.
In the July number of the Wide World
Magazine the Hon. James Inglis tells
the story of a fight between tiger and a
Wild boar in the region Of the Ganges, in
India. a quivering, long-drawn, pulsatlng
sigh seemed to be waited at intervals
across The dark, misty plain. he writes,
the feather tops of the long jungle grass,
and the bending stalks rustled and shiv-
cred and nodded their plumed heads to-
gether. The atmosphere was heavy with
the penetrating odor of cattle-dung fires,
burnt at every Baton all night, partly to
scare off Wild beasts, but quite as much to
ward off the attacks of the hordes of mos
quitoes which hover in clouds about the
camps. Occasionally a SOFT stealthy foot
fail would make Itself barely perceptible
to our strained sense of hearing. as an in
quisitive jackal or possibly a porcupine or
mongoose would creep near. All Of a sud
den Jhank gently touched my arm and
whispered in my ear so low that I could
scarcely catch his accents: Look to the
right, sir"
noiselessly turned my head in the direc-
ton indicated and felt thrill as 1 saw
what seemed in the misty gray shadows
Of the night, looming big and indlstinct
against the dun skyline, to be a great
bulky mass, which Jhanki assured me in
the same low whisper was an enormous
boar. He was coming straight
vi oil In
eeemingly slovenly, unconcern-
ed manner, stopping now and then to give
a self-sausGed grunt, and then roofing
with his great, strong, flexible snout at
almost every step. 1 was just about taking
q sight to cover the boar's brawny chest
when suddenly he struck an attitude and
raised his head and stood out clearer
sharper and well-defned, a noble picture
of unconscious grace and massive strength.
Immediately from the jungle came forth a
sudden growing, prolonged roar, which
tod us that more royal prey was afoot.
Jhankis clutch upon my arm was becom-
ing tighter. | could hear his quick, sharp
breath as he Kissed in my ear "A tiger!
The tusker did not seem exceedingly
alarmed. His attitude seemed to say: 1
fear no foe, and / care not for the growl
even of a tiger" Lowering his head with
an angry toss, he gave loud and savage
grunt-a deep "hoo! hooi'-as If taking up
the challenge and defying the tiger to do
his worst. And now l became witness OF
such a scene as ii is only possible to wit
ness in these wild jungles, where the most
thrilling tragedies are being continually
rehearsed. As if accepting the grunt Of
the boar as a gage of battle a louder roar
from the jungle was the response, and
forth into the arena, with a bound, came
out a magnificently formed young tiger,
flashing his lean TANKS with his angry tail,
his muscles bristiing with rage, his
lips retracted, showing his cleaning fangs
and the bushy hair round his throat and
neck stiff, like a stiff ruff round his fine,
fierce face, as he seemed determined 10
force the fighting and win the victory
by a sudden coup. Alas! for the young
tiger! He was evidently unsophisticated,
and not well Versed in jungle attack. He
had probably been accustomed to find such
quarry as timorous deer, or a poor stray
heifer of the herd overcome with terror
at the sound of his magnificent roar. The
old gray boar he had stumbled on now.
however, was a champion of quite a DIFF
ferent kidney, much to the tigers evident
astonishment. 1t was really whimsical to
observe the young tigers sudden attitude
of bewilderment. The Old boar did not
seem to mind the roar so much as might
have been anticipated He actually re-
peated his 'hco! hoo!' only in a, if pos
s.Dle, more aggressive, insulting and de-
fant manner. Nay, more such was his
temerity that he actually advanced with
short, sharp rush in the direction of the
striped intruder. l am sure that if the
tiger could have retreaJed then with any
dignity he would have been content to
have "cried off, there and then. He
evidently found that he had woke up the
wrong passenger" and that possibly for
his first fight he had caught rather
Ia n he mo- ,,arr
rather to resent his intrusion al something
which was not to be tolerated for an in
slant. This rash, presumptuous, intrusive
bully, tiger or no tiger, must be taught
TO respect the rights of priority of posses
sion.
The tiger was now crouching low, crawl
ing stealthily round and round the boar,
who changed front with every movement
of his 1.-the and sinewy adversary, keep
ing his determined head and sharp, deadly
tusks ever facing his stealthy and treach-
erous foe. The bristles Of the boar's back
We're up at right angles from the strong
spine. The wedgeshaped head poised on
the strong neck, and the thick rampant
of muscular shoulder was bent low, and
the whole attitude of the body betokened
fun alertness and angry resoluteness. In
their Greetings the two brutes were now
nearer 10 each other and nearer to US.
The tiger was now growing and showing
his teeth; and all this, that takes such
time to tell, was but the work of a few
short minutes. Crouchug now still lower,
till he seemed almost fiat on the ground,
and gathering his sinewy limbs beneath
his 1.-THE, lean body, he suddenly started
the stiffness with a loud roar and, quick
as lightning, sprang upon the boar.
For a brief minute the struggle was
thrilling in intense excitement. With one
swift, deXteriOus sweep of the strong paw.
the tiger fetched the boar a terrific slap
right across the jaw, which made the
strong beast reel; but with hoarse grunt
of resolute defiance. with two or three
short sharp digs of the strong head and
neck, and swift cutting blows of the cruel
gashing tusks, he seemed to make a hole
or two in the tigers coat and presently
both combatants We're streaming with
gore. This was round number one. The
bore had evidently got more than he bar
gained for. The tremendous buffet of the
sharp claws had torn flesh and skin awav
form off the boars cheek and forehead
leaving a great ugly flap hanging over his
face and half hlipdfpo