Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-13

luere were no signs
either of rain or of a cooling breeze.
The creepers surrounding the bunga-
low were dropping, and even the
usually stately palms looked languid.
Everything out of doors was motion
less, as if paralyzed by the sitting
atmosphere. Grain, rain, rain, ;"
was the universal cry of thirsty nature.
At this time we lived away up in
the North Provinces, fully twenty
miles beyond the Mission Station of
Rhanaghat, the missionaries there
being our nearest white neighbors.
Round us on every side was Jungle,
stretching as far as the eye could see.
To the west could be seen, in bright
weather, the clear, sharp, snow
crowned peaks of the mountains more
than q hundred miles away. Our
beautiful white bungalow, which al
ways looked so clean and cool-al-
most hidden in a wealth of roses and
gaily-colored creepers, and surrounded
by rhododendrons, azaleas aud other
Towering shrubs-was built on the
slope of hill overlooking the little
native village of Signal
My brother was in Government
service, and the week previously he
had received notice to meet State
official at Rhanaghat. He had gone
with company ofnatives, taking with
him his guns and dogs, in order on
the way back to try and rid the neigh
borhood of its terror, q eating
tiger.
"Sahib," said Chadda, one of our
men, near Botta Singarum, a village
two coss (tour niles off, there one
Burra Bagh" 'bagh" means tiger
"who kill plenty men; he ate one old
woman yesterday. He has an evil
spirit, sahib, for though all shikarmen
aad village people plenty, plenty,
looking, never can lind him. Wo
burra chor by (he is a very great
thief, sirl."
That was Chadda's account.
Inquiry more than substantiated
the accusations made against the
terrible Burra Bagh, and it was found
that, not only was he a great thief,
but wholesale murderer to boot.
Lurking amongst the dense brush
wood that skirted the highway, he had
within the last six months seized and
devoured the amazing number of forty
OF the iDhabitants-sixteen of whom
were running postmen. Over and
over again he had snatched the cattle
watchers, leaving the cattle un.
touched. The natives were of the
opinion that it was of little use seek
ing him, as he never remained two
nights at the same place. My brother,
however, was determined that these
awful deyastations should come to al
end, and he therefore organized the
hunt to take place on his way back
from Rhanaghat.
So he departed, and I was lef
alone-a.one in my little home ur
among the hills. Fear | knew not. SC
accustomed had [ grown to the sight.
and sounds of jungle life. But OF
this the third evening of his absence
[ began to feel lonely, and the ex
treme heat mado me rather nervou.
into the bargain.
[ had finished my home letters err
dusk, and, with yawn, L drank The
cup OF welcome chakwa (cnfiee) whicl
Bara, the ayah, brought me. I ther
retired 10 my loom, and was soon il
bed. How hot it was I have beer
in what are considered warmer part
OF India since, but never have L ex
perienced heat hike that which pre
vailed that night. My baby-sister la,
in her little cot by my bedside, an,
her regular breathing soon made m
feel drowsy. The fragrance of th
roses seemed to fill the air, bearing
train of pleasant memories, and vi
sions, happy visions, of the dear home
folks away in England Aoated befor
me till / was almost asleep.
| Suddenly big gadal (black bat