El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-02
!: THE GOLD BRACELET :

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4 daring theft had been committed on
board the American gun brig Warrior.
which was at the time lying about two
miles off the southwest coast of Hindu
stan
\ native. having been fascinated by a
peculiar gold bracelet worn by Mrs. Bar
dolph, the captains wife. had suddenly
snatched it from her arm and jumped
into a boat.
A boat was lowered, in jumped the
captain and half a dozen sailors, and
they were soon IN 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 your shouted the
captain The rest of you stay here and
watch the boat"
The captain sprang into the thick
underbrush, following the natives trail.
shown by the trampled 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.
He 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 a full hour
without seeing any sign of the robber.
Then he paused to recover his breath. At
that moment he heard a snarling noise
behind him. He turned to behold a huge
tigress dashing swiftly along past him.
The ferocious beast had not seen him.
The sight OF this monster would have
deferred many n man in the captain 8
situation from venturing farther. But
Bardolph was a person of indomita BILE
withal. No danger could turn him from
4 purpose once formed
On he went, to at length discover the
native ahead of him in a thick grove.
resting under tree. his gaze fixed upon
the bracelet he had stolen.
A few yards beyond the grove there
was jungle. The captain. fearing that
him, would make for this thicket. leveled
at him his pistol while he was yet 30
yards from the man.
"Stand. you rascal! II you move q
step. 1 will blow your brains out!' shout
ed Bardolph.
With a derisive laugh, the native glided
behind the tree.
Just as he was swinging himself over
one of the branches the captain. who had
watched his chance, fired.
Another derisive laugh broke from the
native.
Never mind. You can't escape mel
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 hercely.
When the captain had reached a
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 Inn 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,
one which had previously passed the cap
tain, might now have been seen.
Suddenly, pushed with tremendous
force by the why arm of his antagonist. l
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 endeavored to extricate
himself His feet, resting on a lower
branch. were tightly held, as we're also
his arms.
The natives face glowed with savage
exultation. 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. tantalizingly moving his
dagger to and fro. he remained motion
less, glaring at the captain like a snake
at a bird held fast in its coils.
Bardolpb gave himself up for lost.
At length, up went the knife above the
captain. the keen point on a line with the
back of his neck, In 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
at that moment a quick, loud growl was
heard. There was a rustling noise in the
adjoining tree, followed by a whizzins
sound, as the striped body of the igress |
descended slantingly through the air up |
on the form of the Hindoo. whose bleed |
Ing throat had excited her voracity.
With crash, the fierce animal and his |
victim fell to the ground. the former up
permost-
In a 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 |
the captain, the latter succeeded |
in getting hold of it and finally in freeing |
himself.
Waiting until the tigress, satiated with |
her horrible reDaSt had left the SPOT