The suburban citizen., 1901-08-10
NoVEL rIoER HuNr,
snticed within Rifle Shot by u "shlkar
with Bells"

with Bells"
For a whole year the monster con-
inued his depredations almost with
)ut molestation. over forty people
lad been slain, and the village herds
suffered severely. The local forest
anger was in a state of terror. and
aad written to his superior in terms
much ms follows, showing the difficult
situations in which he compiled his re-
ports: FEB. l. Up a tree where l
adhere with much pain and discom-
posure while big tiger roaring in a
very awful manner on the fire line.
This is two times he spoiled my work,
coming and shouting like thunder and
| putting me up tree, and making me
behave like an insect. i am not able
10 climb with agility, owing to stom-
ach being a little big, owing to bad
water Of this jungle. Jungle mans
can fly up trees quickly. Even when
do not see this tiger and he does
not make a dreadful noise l see the
marks of his hoofs and his nails on the
path" SO it came about that when
my camp was pitched in the vicinity
If the yellow Peril" a deputatlon,
headed by Koombappa, presented IT.
| self before my tent and begged me to
id the neighborhood of a monster
concerning whose doings each one had
! some piteous tale to tell. 1t was a
long tramp up the valley before day.
| light next morning, and a stiff climb
up the path, which wound its way
over the rocks and through the thick
bamboo jungle. Now the jungle was
so thick and extensive that TO beat
| for the tiger would be a useless task.
Nothing could be seen in the dense
thickets of the cover where he lurked.
What was to be done?
! The. l bethought me of a mode Of
J hunting of which a sportsman Of sixty
years of age had told me. This was
the "shikar with bells" A native.
adorned only with a coating Of wood
ashes, with a tray containing burning
oilwicks upon his head, and a chime
Of bells in his hand, precedes the hunt
or in search of game on a dark night.
| Such was the plan now proposed. At
| 10 o'clock at night Koombapps.
! smeared with ashes and bearing the
lights upon his head and the chime in
| his hand, preceded me to the forest.
| 1t was a weird adventure. Naught
could be seen but the dim outline Of
trees in the gloomy forest. My COM
| paniOn's movements became more gro
tesQue and, as it We're, inspired. The
! lights danced before my eyes and cast
a baleful glare for some yards ahead.
The tinkle Of the bells became more
sonorous, and filled the forest will q
weird noise that exercised an inde-
scribable spell over the sensese. Sud-
denly the spectral ash-clad figure
| ceased to advance, but frantically con-
tinued its ceaseless antics. 1 peered
into the gloom in front, and saw two
luminous orbs shining through the
darkness. Slowly they approached.
The movements of the dancer became
spasmodic as the huge form Of the
tiger emerged from the shadows and
stood erect before us in the dim flick
tLIuB HSulf Win every udlt SSti DltdIH-
Ing heavily with painting tongue and
heaYing sides. AS l raised my rife
and fired between the creatures eyes
Koombappa sank TO the ground ex-
hausted by his exertlons and excite
ment The lights were eXtinguished
at the same moment, and all was silent
and buried in darkness. For some
minutes | dared not move. At length,
as my eyes became accustomed to the
darkness, objects outlined themselves
amid the surrounding obscurity, and
the great form of the tiger appeared
lying on the ground few yards off.
My bullet had pierced his brain.-In-
/
| dian Gnorting rfn,ac