Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-09-20
A Man of Nerve

jack Benton's nerve. He had a record
as daredevil of n fighter, and his
personal adventures were many and
thrilling.
heard score Of anecdotes about
Captain Benton before we left Mysorc
for a tiger hunt In the foothills of the
Ghauts. There were six of us In the
party, with twenty natives to mind
the horses and take care Of the camp,
and all went well for the first week.
We had bagged two boars and tiger
and knocked over a number of tackals
when native came In one morning
and reported that two full grown tigers
and cub were lying up in nullah, or
ravine, about three miles away.
A good deal has been written about
the ferocity of the Bengal tiger, but as
n matter Of fact he doesn't compare
with the hill tiger in either size or tenn
per. Neither is he as cunning. He has
been hunted so much that he Is more
like fugitive cat. The tiger Of the
hills seldom sees human being, Is
driven out only by hunters. and he is
utterly without fear. The Bengal may
drop his tail ana run away after fac.
ing hunter for moment, but the 9th.
or Will surely spring and die fighting.
The six Of us set off for the ravine.
where about fifty natives had collected
to beat the tigers out of their lair. and
we took up positions here and there
along the banks. Captain Benton's
position was opposite mine and about
twenty rods away. and the ground was
SO open that we had fair sight Of
each other. There was some delay
over the beaters getting to work. and
the captain lay down on the broad Of
his back on the grass under tree
while waiting. Instead of emulating
him climbed into tree on my side
Of the ravine and frankly acknowledge
ed to myself that felt shaky. There
was profound silence In the neighbor-
hood. and while settling myself in a
comfortable position lost sight of the
captain for four or five minutes. When
| looked across again, 1t was to find
three tigers standing over him, two old
ones and cub. They had left their
lair ut the first alarm and came trot-
ting down through the thickets on the
north bank of the nullah. The cap
tain was in their path as they started
to cross an open spot, and curiosity
had compelled them to halt. 1t would
have been dead easy to pick off one Of
the three beasts ut that distance had I
not been ratified. The sudden advent
of the tigers set me to shaking. and my
teeth chartered as I sat there in the
treetop and watched their movements.
The old male tiger first reached out a
paw and turned the captain over on
his face. He Vas rs rigid rs If dead.
The female then turned him back,
while the cub leaped over him back
and forth In n playful way. Then the
male tiger shifted at the mans face
and licked his check, and the female
struck him several times OH the leg
with her paw.
Although I was too upset to shoot,
could have called out, but dared not
do that for fear Of provoking the IT,
gers. They We're in a playful mood.
but yet they growled in n menacing
way, and it was evident that they were
suspicious Of my presence. I hoped
that when the noise at the head Of
the ravine began they would stink
quietly off. and listened for that with
my heart almost choking me. While I
waited the cub lay down Mt full length
and began biting one Of the captains
hands. He had torn the flesh with a
thorn the day before. and there was an
unhealed scratch. The rough tongue
of the beast started the blood, and he
had no sooner got the taste than he
rose up, with fire in his eyes. and
growled savagely. The old ones ad-
vanced and turned the body over and
back again and struck ut the bleeding
hand with their paws and it was evil
dent that they were encouraging the
young one to make his first meal Of
human being. He was timid about be-
ginning. but finally lay down again and
bit and worried the hand as you have
seen dog worry n rat. The old tigers
ran 10 and fro. whining and growing
and encouraging, and presently real
lied that must do something or the
captain would be eaten alive. ! had
just opened my mouth to utter n shout
when the beating began. The natives
were armed with drums. flrecrackers.
tOrpedoes and cymbals, and, though
they We're a mile away. the noise at
once alarmed the tigers. The three
were confused for moment, and then
the old male picked up the captains
body and started off with 1t. He did
not carry 1t over 100 feet. however.
Ratified by the explosions in the nullah.
he lost his wits and dropped the body
and bOlted into the thicket.
1t was only when too late that gave
the alarm. Two Of the hunters answer
ed my call. and we crossed the ravine
TO the body. I was hopeful that the
captain was still all right and more SO
when we found that his hand had not
been SO very badly bitten. but n brief
Inspection proved that he was dead.
The body WIS warm and limp. but the
heart had ceased to beat. That he could
not have fallen asleep so quickly after
lying down | felt certain. He must
have been awake when the tigers stole
upon him. and his i1ca would have
been to play dead Tint he acted
upon this idea was shown by his hold
ing himself so rigid when turned over
! believe he was yet alive when the
cub bit his hand and that he was wait
ing for the noise of the heaters TO
frighten the tigers away. lie held his
nerve TO that point but when the noise