Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-01-02
THE LANE TIGER
OF HULDUANl.
A Story Showing That It Is More Dan-
gerous to Bea Coward Than
to He Brave.

3 gerous to BE "a Coward Than
to BE Brave. 3
1t was in the middle of May, Just be-
fore the beginning of the lesser rains.
that Ram Deem and certain wayfarers
sat round handful of fire at Lal Koo-
ah from mere force of habit, for the
heat of the evening was great, and not
a breath of air stirred in the jungle.
The sal trees had lost their leaves and
looked like ghosts, the grass had been
burned in all directions. and as the sun
set in the copper sky It lit up land
scape that might have stood for the
determination of desolation.'
The dry chirping of the crickets, just
beginning to tune their first uneasy
strains, accorded with the unholy
scene. Even the horses waiting for the
mail cart were lrnbued with the de-
pressing influence of the season and
hung their heads with sense of de
spair.
No one spoke. and the hookah passed
from hand to hand in a dreary silence.
Suddenly the attention of those assem-
bled was attracted by the curious ac-
tion Of bya 6aflorl bird In a neigh-
boring laiinosa tree. 1t was calltng
frssntic and dropping lower from
bough to bough as though against it's
will
'.Nagi" exclaimed the bunnia, and,
directed by his remark. all eyes were
turned to the foot of the tree. where
an enormous cobra, with expanded
hood, was swaying its head from side
to side and drawing the wretched bird
to It's doom through the fascination of
fear.
Ram Deem. whose sympathies were
always with the weak and defenseless.
rose TO his feet and, throwing dry
clod OF earth otothe reptile, drove the
creature from the tree. while the bird.
released from its hypnotic influence,
dew away.
Brothers" said Ram Deen, fear is
the father of all sins and the cause of
most calamities. He who feareth not
death is a king in his own right and
dieth but once. but a coward
shabashl who can count his pangs?"
"Ho, hoH chuckled the little bullock
driver. "Ram Deem, the fearless, shall
live to be hundred years old.''
NAY, Goor Duttr' said Ram Deem.
graYely regarding the little man. II,
too, have known fear. No man may
drive the mail to Kaladoongie with
out looking on death.
Ram Deem smoked awhile in silence,
and when the expectation of his listen
ers was wrought to proper pitch he
went on, Ye all knew Nandha, the
hostler, who used to go with me last
year from this stage to Kaladoongie2"
Aye, coach-wan il, responded the
carrier Tor the others Tis great
telling, but not known to these hon
orable wayfarers who come from be-
yond Moradabad."
Brothers, ye saw the plight of the
Dya Dlrd but now; SO was It with
Nandha," said Ram Deem.
"One evening ere the mail arrived he
called me to where he stood by the
kikar tree yonder. looking down at
the ground In the dust OF the road
were laIlse Iootprlnts-
lese be the spoor OF a tiger lame
In It's left hind foot, said to Nandha-
See, here 1t crouched on Its belly and
wiped away the wheel tracks made by
the mail cart this morning
us the lame tiger OF HuIdwani
coaen-Wan. He-is OLD, ana he hunteth
man SIunga send he Is hunting else
WneEe ii tonight' replied Nandha-
W. men we came within mile OF the
pore oridge that night, the horses
stoppeo suaoenly. 11ey were Wild
w. "isn ie.ll' sllu etl ''sl 20 move Inc
nlsns lll, Mls as .osE = is the lnsioe oI
sou,u' anu ps's oiiti eiie eireie OF liel1