Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-12-08

! THE GOLD BRACELET ;
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daring theft had been committed on
board the Ameri ,,n gun brig Warrior,
which was at the time lying about two
miles off the southwest const of Hindu
stan.
native, having been fascinated by a
peculiar gold bracelet worn by Mrs. Bar.
holph. the captains wife, had suddenly
snatched it from her arm and jumped
into a boat.
y boat was lowered, in jumped the
captain and half dozen sailors, and
they were soon i'll pursuit Of the thief.
The men, pulling with a will, soon
gained the spot where he had landed and
left his boat.
Follow me, some of you" shouted the
captain. THE rest OF you stay here and
watch the boat"
The captain sprang into the thick
undcrbrush. following the natives trail,
shown by the trnmpled down bushes. He
had not proceeded far. however, when he
came upon three distinct paths. Which
had the fugitive taken? So hard was the
ground that he had left no tracks. Four
men were with the captain.
lie sent two of them along the path
branching to the left the other two on
the one opposite, while he took that look
ing straight ahead.
The young man kept on for n full hour
without seeing any sign of the robber.
Then he paused to recover his breath. At
that moment he heard a snarlng noise
behind him. He turned to behold hugo
tigress dashing swiftly along past him.
Che ferocious beast had not seen him.
The sight of this monster would have
deferred many a man in the captains
situation from venturing farther. But
BardOlph was a person of indomitable
resolution and was rather headstrong
withal. No danger could turn him from
purpose once formed.
On he went, to at length discover the
native ahead of him in a thick grove,
resting under a tree, his gaze fixed upon
the bracelet he had stolen.
A few yards beyond the grove there
was a jungle. The captain, fearing that
the thief, who, soon looking up, beheld
him. would make for this thcket, leveled
at him his pistol while he was yet 80
yards from the man.
Stand, you rascal! II you move a
step, will blow your brains outw shout
ed Bardolph.
With derisive laugh, the native glided
behind the tree.
Just as he was swinging himself over
OhC VI lHe lilt Cdplull, VIII Huu
watched his chance, fired.
Another dprisive laugh broke from the
native.
Never mind. You can't escape mer'
cried Bardolph.
Throwing off his boots, he assembled the
tree. The robber, seeing him coming,
drew from his belt long, sharp dagger,
his eyes flashing fiercely.
When the cnDtain had reached
branch within a foot of him, the Hindoo,
suddenly leaning forward. made a thrust
at him with the knife.
Bardolph. prepared for this, struck up
the fellows arm with one hand. Using
the other, in which was his pistol, he
dealt him a blow ON the head with the
butt end of the weapon. Momentarily
stunned. the robber leaned back against
the trunk of the tree. The captain threw
himself upon him, but the thief, who had
then recovered, grappled with him.
The native was strong and wiry. In
striving to stab his adversary, however,
the keen blade of his weapon struck and
was half buried in a branch.
Half hidden by the vines and leaves
among the upper branches of the adjoin
ing tree. the broad head and great round.
glarng eyes Of a tigress. evidently the
one which had previously passed the cap
ttain might now have been seen.
Suddenly, pushed with tremendous
force by the wiry arm Of his antagonist,
Bardolph slipped off the branch and fell.
He seized another branch a few feet be-
meath him as he went thus saving him
self from going farther. But he was
now caught in a mass of climbing para
sites, with many winding tendrils. from
which he vainly endeavorea to extricate
himself His feet, resting on q lower
branch were tightly held, as were also
his arms.
The natives face glowed with savage
cXultation. He had plucked his knife,
and with it held firmly in his right hand,
he was descending toward the helpless
young man.
Soon he was right above his intended
victim. when, tnntalizingly moving his
dagger to and fro, he remained motion
less glaring at the captain like a snake
looking al bird held fast in it's coils.
Bardolph gave himself up for lost.
At length. up went the knife above the
captain. the keen point on line with the
back of his neck, III which the native
meant to bury the sharp blade to the hilt.
1t was about to descend. There SEEM
ed no hope for the unfortunate young
man. who. with an inward prayer for his
wife, stood ready to meet his fate. But
Mt that moment a quick, loud growl was
heard. There was rustling noise in the
adjoining tree. followed by a whzzing
sound. as the striped body of the tiSress
descended slantingy through the air up
on the form of the Hindoo, whose bleed
ing throat had excited her yoracity.
With crash, the fierce animal and his
victim fell to the ground. the former up
pcrmost.
In short time the native was literally
torn to pieces after which he was de-
voured by the hungry beast.
The mans knife having dropped from
his hand and caught among the tendrils
around the captain, the latter succeeded
in getting hold of it and finally in freeing
himself.
Waiting until the tigrcss, satiatcd with
her horrible repaSt, had left the spot,
Bardolph descended to the ground, pick
I'd up his wife's bracelet. which had fall
en- from the thiefs pocket. and hurried
to the cutter where he found all his
boats crew just preparing to go in
search of him.
Mrs. Bardolph was glad to receive her
bracelet, but she chung, weeping, to her
husband when he described the perils
through which he had passed to obtain IT.
New York News.
Poor Schooling.
Customer Why did you take your boy
AWAY from school so yOun1?