Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-03-17

III us Ahi OdA'
Hisscared exclamation. as he thought
the ship was surely going down, the
tiger answered with another grow
This growl apparently caused the mon
key TO abandon its idea of springiug
into the rigging; for, with an almost
human murmur of fear, Il sought to
cuddle in Sid's arms for protection. lie
put hand, albeit shaking one, caress
ingly on its head.
The tiger, ominous as had been its
growl, did not appear to want to force
n fight. 1t did not come nearer. It.,
too. was frightened by the strangeness
of its position and the waste of tum.
bling water.
1t approached the rail and looked
down into the little boat. Though this
was done without any apparent inten-
ton of springing into the boat, the
movement gave Sid another thrill Of
fear. With the tigers head touching
The rail just over the boat. Sid's chances
of escaping from the sinking ship
seemed slenderer than ever.
After the first shock of fear had
passed Sid tried TO calm himself that he
might consider his situation. His only
hope seemed TO be TO get the tiger away
from the starboard rail. II he could do
that he might reach the boat by cour-
ageous dash, or by springing into the
sea he might gain the bat by swim.
ming, even though he was not very
good swimmer. To remain in the rig
ging until the ship went down was TO
go down with 1t.
To ascertain what the tiger would
do he descended few feet, holding the
shivering monkey tightly against his
breast. The tiger instantly noticed and
resented the movement. It's lips drew
back from its white teeth in snarl,
and ii took step in Sid's direction.
Its attitude was so threatening that the
boy stopped short, with terror again
Juggling at his heart.
But fear Of the nav of the sea soon
drove him downward.
This threw the tiger into n rage. II
came nearer. Looking up at him with
its blazing yellow eyes, it crouched
within, sprnging distance of the
shrouds. It's black and yellow bands
seemed TO wrthe in snaky folds, and its
sinuous, swaying tail quivered to the
very tip.
Only a knowledge that the ship was
sinking kept Sid from scrambling back
with all speed. He was sure the vessel
had perceptibly settled since he came
aboard, SO short time before. An
other big wave was lifting her; and the
conviction was forced on him that the
time in which she would remain afioa,
could be numbered in minutes, if not N
seconds.
IF only had Delaying PIN" h.
thought. Anything TO throw!"
He snatched off his cap and hurled Il
as far as he could to port.
The tiger rose with a hoarse growl.
glared at the flying cap, and took a step
toward it as it fell.
The ship was lifting on another wave.
With trembling fingers Sid drew out
his pocket knife, wrapped his handker-
chief about it. and hurled both over the
tigers head.
They dropped in the port scuppcrs,
and, with a blood-chilling snarl, the
angered brute leaped in that direction.
This was Sid's opportunity. With the
monkey clinging 10 his shoulders he
sprang down the rigging almost at a
bound and sped across the deck. He
heard the tiger slide and turn. Then
he heard it's snarl and the rattle of its
claws, as he began 10 cas-; off the line
that held The boat.
Terror drove Sid Holly's heart into
his mouth and made his fingers clumsy
In fancy he felt the tigers hot breath
on his back and its sharp teeth in his
flesh. But he cast off the line some
how and sprang over the rail into the
boat.
AT the same instant there was a rum
bling growl, and The tiger hurled its
sinewy bulk through the cir after him.
Sid, as he crouched, saw il shoot over
him like flash; then heard it drop
with splash into the sea
He sank down trembling and ex-
hausted, not having strength to push
the boat from the ships side. The
monkey tried TO climb from his shout
der into his arms for protection. The
boat swung away of Itself as the ship
once more lifted, and by sort Of in
stinct Sid put hand on the tiller.
Then he saw the tiger rise to the SUE
face, splashing as If bewildered. It
turned toward him and began to swim.
He gave the tiler further push, the
sail caught the breeze and the boat
moved through the water.
The sail caught the full force of the
breeze and the boat quickly drew away
from the ship. Again the tiger sank
and rose, weaker than before. Twice
was this repeated Then the big ship
her timbers groaning, gave a sudden
and ominous roll to port. huge green
wave crawled across her decks, as Il
seeking to stife the smoke that rose
from the forecastle. There was an
other groan, with creaking Of yard:
and cordagc.
Sid Holly clung like drowning boy
10 the ruddcr of his little boat, But he
was already far enough from the ship
TO be practically out Of danger
Nor was the commotion as great as
he had expected. The waves bolel
furiously for few moments. Then the
Java, trailing her masts. went down
like leaden plummet
When the topmasts had disappeared
Sid looked for the tiger 1t was not to
be seen.
THAT came near being our fate
Jock!"
The words breathed a prayer Of graf.
itude; and the little monkey, hence
forth for life Sid Eolly's friend and
companion, crept toward him, as II II.
TOO, felt awed and thankful, and was