Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-01
bush and low hanging branches, and my

bush and low hanging branches, and my
wheel was moving.
Though in u fever, my movements
We're correct, swift and sure. / felt it in
the muscles of my legs ard congratulated
myself on il. / seemed to have become
instinct all over. 1 personiiied the instinct
Of self preservation, that power which car
ries one through dangers with far great
or measure Of security than the clearcst
intellect.
After working the pedals up ard down
o few dozen times / attained wonderful
velocity. In short space OF time that en-
sued between the first and the second leap
Of the tiger ! had become a fghter-a
fighter for life. II was all clear to mo
now. II gained start Of, say, 200 feet,
| might escape. a tiger is "a great runner,
but when on chase be does not run. He
contents himself with lcaping. More time
gained!
Il raced along the smooth path-no
deer ever covered the ground half as quick
ly--and behind me the grating noises of
the sand, the whizzing of the giant form.
Il kept my distance between the second
and the third leaps. The fourth leap re-
duced tie start had to about 20 feet, the
l felt the touch of the tigers paw on my
hind whcel--that is, l think did.
"a voice of ny inncrmost man said:
You arc lost, Give it up Another cried:
NO, no! The pursacr is the disappointed
| party Ii unable to reach his victims,
| the tiger gets Disguised with himself.
And this latter sur,nisal proved true,
! for left the leapcr behind some ten PAGES
II,
aware for the first time that the road was
, skirted by big trees. In<inctively / led
! my wheel into their shadow. The protruti-
! ing branches would hinder the tiger from
| jumping with that unfailing directncss
| for which he is noted. BY this time had
attained the topmost speed, and my cal
| culation with respect to the Interference
| of tho trees proved correct. The pursuer
missed the wheel by u second or two on
| his next two leaps
Now was on tie narrow, raiiingless
bridge leading over the canal. Still raced
along with uncrring surety and undimin-
ished swiftness The tiger stopped IA mo-
| ment before Tic water, SO | gained 90
| PAGES. These gains ] could not see, Of
| course, but OWNED. / Was wildly cli:ted
at my victory, and joy spurrcd me to ever
! increasing efforts. Whether ! ran swifter
than before l don't know, but do know
that my powers never faltcred; that my
muscles remained steady
Now there was a little hill to climb. !
climbed it like conqueror and rolled
down on the other side like u ball A feel
ing of triumph swelled my bosom.
shouted, cried Vet kept my eyes on
the ground. And there, 80 PAGES ahead
was lying che thing that meant death t.
me. The branch of tree crossing the en-
tire roadway.
"Why had not removed it On going tc
the forest?
There was no use calculating, had tC
take this obstacle and l did take it, Goo
only knows how. But my heretofore per
feet balance was momcntarily shaken, and
i came near losing my head ms this new
fright oyercame me. Yet moment latel
was myself again.
81 raced and raced, and still raced.
heard my pursuer for 80 seconds longer
Had he now abandoned the chase, or was
it merely rusc? Perhaps he was gather
ing strength for Il last supreme leap. Nov
or mind-On, ON, on! And Iwent straight
ahead until my front wheel struck the
porch of Villa Ouivclandt by which con
cussion l was thrown violently upon tn,
ground. More don't remember
The hero Of this uncqualcd adventure
NJ. Rosne, was found by the Waterman
who had heard the noise OF the flyin.
wheel and the collision.