St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-03-11

ingly on its head.
The tiger, ominous as had been its
growl, did not appear to want 10 force
a fight. 1t did not come nearer. II.
100. 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 chances
Of escaping from the sinking ship
seemed slenderer than ever.
The ship dropped again into trough.
with a threatening Iurch, after the
passage Of big wave. Some rope,
noisily Slated, and the yards groaned
as if they felt the paEgs of the vessels
approaching dissolution. The tiger
balanced and shifted on its big feet, its
claws suggestively rattling on the hard
boards Of the deck, but i. did not ma
terially change its position. Now and
then it cast questioning. suspicious
glance at the boy in the mizzen shrouds.
but for the most part i, kept its yellow
eyes fixed in apparent despair on the
sea.
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. IL 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 n the rig
giny until the ship went Gown was 10
60 down With i.
TO ascertain what the tiger would
DO he descended few feet. holding the
sbiveriug monkey tightly against his
breast. The tiger instantly noticed and
resented the movement. Its lips drew
back from its white teeth in snarl,
and it took step in Sid'> direction.
Its attitude was so threatening tha. the
boy stopped short, with terror again
tugging at his heart.
But fear of the nav of the sea soon
drove him downward.
This threw the tiger into q rage. It
came nearer. Looking up at him with
its blazing yellow eyes, it crouched
within springing distance of the
shrouds. Its black and yellow bands
seemed to writhe in snaky folds, and its
sinuous, sway;ng tail quiyered 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. Ar
other big wave was lifting her; and the
conviction was forced on him that the
time in which she would remain afloat
could be numbered in minutes, if not N
seconds. e
II l only had a Delaying PIN" he
thought. Anything to throw!"
He snatched off his cap and hurled II
as far as he could to port.
The tiger rose with hoarsc 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 ii, and hurled both over the
tigers head.
They dropped in the port scuppers,
and, with blood-chilling snarl, the
angered brute leaped in that direction.
This was Sid's opportunity. With the
monkey clinging to 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 its snarl and the rattle of its
claws. as he began to cas-. of 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 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 1t 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 shoul-
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 sur
face. splashing as ii bewiidered. II
turned toward him and began to swim.
He gave the tiller further push, the
sail caught the breeze anG the boat
moved through the water.
A white-topped wave. Kissing as il in
anger. threw its heavy bulk across The
tigers head, and again the big beast
went down. The ship seemed about to
follow it. But the ship rose, and the
tigers head again appeared. The tiger
was plainly frightened. 1t was out oi
its element and the plaything Of The
seething waters.
The sail caught the full force Of the
breeze and the boat quickly drew away
from the ship. Again the tiger sans
and rose, weaker than before. Twice
was this repeated. Then the big ship
her timbers groaning. gave a sudden
and ominous roll to port. a huge green
wave crawled across her decks, as il
seeking to stifie the smoke that rose
from the forecastle. There was an.
other groan, with a creaking of yards
and cordage.
Sid Holly clung like a drowning boy
to the rudder 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 boile.l
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,