Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-10-15
A BICYCLE RACE
WITH A TIGER.
BY MUMFoRD ROBINSON.

was always very fond OF BIZ
cycling, and from the time when 1
was a small boy, and labored for
hours with bone shaker, to the
days when I became the proud pos
SCISSOR of one of the first ssafeties"
ever made, reveled in the enchant.
ing pastime, spending hours on the
back of my steel steed, thus putting
my physical powers a long way
ahead of my mental. In fact, / hated
the sight of a book, and was never
happy unless ''scorching" through
the country on my bicycle.
My father was a doctor in an
English village, and having large
family, he was thankfulindeed when,
at the age of nineteen, commission
was obtained for me by a wealthy
friend in regiment about TO sail for
India.
A grand new bicycle was my
fathers parting present, and great
was my delight at finding that
another young "sub' in my regiment
was also bicyclist.
In these days, when the bicycle
has go many votaries, this may seem
nothing strange; but to realize my
surprise and pleasure. you must re-
member that bicycle was then a
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 thu triumpbal
entry of some Eastern Potentate.
could fill a book with the curious
incidents and accidents which befell
us going sup country" Our regi-
ment was always on the move, and
panics of one kind or another were
very frequent on our bicycling ex-
cursions. One evening. after mess,
Fred and signed articles to ride q
ten mile race.
There was a grand native road
within short distance OF our camp,
running away for ten miles as Hat az
a drawing-board. 1t lay through
the open PLAIN, and then deserted
tract was reached, becoming wilder
as the road proceeded, and finally
swallowing it upin an inpenetrable
Jungle. 1t was on this road I in
tended to train. Fred bad found q
circular path round some native huts
q short way from the station, meas
uring about six laps to the mile, and
there he prepared himself for the
coming struggle.
After week of such training as
would make a modern athletes hair
stand on end meat almost. raw,
chopped very finely, etc.-we con-
sidered ourselves fit for the contest;
and the venture / am about to relate
occurred the evening before the race
day. l was just starting for lest
ride over my fayorite training course.
when an officer stopped me and said:
"Haye you heard of the tiger,
Harvey?"
s'No,n answered.
"The natives have just brought
word that some tiger is marked
down in a jingle about ten miles
from here; SO don't go too far, this
evening"
"All right,' / laughed; 81 think a
tiger would find it difficult matter
to catch me-my training would tell
on him.
had not seen any large wild beast
as yet, and my notion OF tiger was
thin, sleepy looking animal. such
as had once seen in menagerie.
Away | rode, my comrades eau
tion forgotten before had gone a
mile.
started at good pace. but not
racing, as / intended to do all I
knew coming home. In an hour i
reached my usual halting place, ten
miles from the camp; but this being
the last night of my training, I
made up my mind to ride another
couple of miles, and then do the
whole distance hack at ascorching''
pace.
| rode on, and in another ten min.
utes found myself in the jungle.
Now for the race home.
Dismoupfino- I oiled nv unnchtua