Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-06-01

felt foolish. Black bats were quite
common, but my nervousness at see-
ing them was most uncommon.
I lay back on my pillow again and
listened to the eerie noises of the
jackals holding festival in the Jungle,
and the occasional screeches of wild
birds. I lay awake until it was quite
dark-the peculiar darkness of an In
dian night. All was still, save for the
low, steady snoring of Bara, the ayah.
whose dusky form 1 could make out
lying on mat just beyond my dress
ing-room door. Through the muslin
curtains OF the sitting-room doorway
saw Bruno, the mastiff, fast asleep,
and his presence there gave me a
feeling of security. But, hark! what
was that noise?-a crashing in the
shrubbury, then soft, gliding move
ment among the bushes below the
verandah. I was thoroughly awake
now, and listening intently. The
sound ceased as suddenly as 1t came,
and then after a short interval was
heard again. Itseemed to me now like
the tread of some heavy animal.
Could any of the bulloclls have broken
loose? No, that was not likely.
waited, and in a minute heard ter
rife thud on the sitting-room veranda,
which seemed to shake the whole
house. The animal, whatever it was,
was evidently bent on mischief. The
shattering and splintering of glass
and the rending of curtains next pro.
claimed that the beast had entered
the room. I sprang from my bed and
peered through the curtains. Bruno
also had leaped up, but only to meet
his doom. What met my gaze fairly
stupefied me with horror. There
crouched tiger of immense size! In
his blazing eyes was gleam of what
seemed to me insanity. His magnifi-
Gently colored body was motionless,
and his tail moved restlessly to and
fro with an almost fascinating regu-
larity. He gave a growl of satisfac-
ton, and springing forward, had in
moment crushed poor Bruno's skull
beneath his deadly paw. Selling the
mastiff by the back he shook him as
cat shakes a mouse, then with his
claws slit up the neck, and drained
the blood. The tiger then carried
him to the centre of the room, and
| lying down, commenced slowly to de-
YOUR him. | heard the crunching OF
the bones and the smacking of those
terrible lips, end turned away with
horror and neusea. L nearly tainted;
but one glance of the little crib forti.
fed and ner'ed me. I must, if pos
sible, try AMI save myself for the sake
of my brother and dear home-folks,
and not only myself, but also my help
less baby-sis and the retinue of
faithful servants.
What was to be done? If the SER
wants were called and informed of the
situation, panic would ensue, the
beast would be reused, and death
would be the certain and speedy fate
of at least some of us. There was
only one thing to do, and that I must
do alone. In drawer of my brothers
dressing table lay loaded revolver.
If l could but get that, and use it
rightly L knew nothing of firearms,
but | had an idea that revolvers could
only be used when near the object
aimed at. 1 shuddered. Could 1 ap-
proach that awful beast? 1 clenched
my teeth and softly crossed the room.
l was cold now, cold as the beauti-
fully plated revolver which I drew
from the drawer.
Nerving myself crossed the room,
passed through the curtained door
way, and in a moment stood behind
the monarch of the jungle, who was
now standing finishing the horrid re-
mains of the first course of his feast
What would the second course be? He
was evidently an old animal and
rather deaf, or he must have heard
my movements, quiet though they
We're Now or never! / levelled the
,, revolver, took aim, and fired at the
back of his head. With roar like
thunder he turned and prepared to
spring. 1 fired another shot, which
must have entered his neck; then an
other hurried one, which seemed to
penetrate farther down. When the
smoke cleared away, saw him rolling
over and over, writhing in his death
,, agony, and staining the white palm
mat with his blood. I stepped on
one side and fired again-tlsis time
behind the ear. A slight tremor
,, passed over his limbs, and then all
was still. Burra Bagh, the man
eater, was dead and his victims
avenged. I had accomplished un-
Willingly what my brother had failed
to do. These thoughts passed through
my mind, and then I seemed to fade
away.
remembered no more till awoke
in the centre of an excited group at
Rhanaghat, whittier the kindly ma.
tives had carri sd me, all those twenty
miles.
When I returned home, a month
later, was met by band of villagers,
headed by Chadda, who, in the name
of the people, presented me with the
skin of Burra Bagh, which they had
carefully cured for me, and, under
meath ther veranda, they stood and