The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-06-20

"How penetrating you are" was my
sisters ironical reply Major. you
are just in time Miss Blithedale has
just declared that she will not return
10 town without the escort Of the whole
garrison-or OF Major Gallanton, per-
haps."
The major looked almost panied at
this allusion in the dead set that Miss
Blithodale had been making at him to
every ones amusement.
"And SO, my sister continued brisk
ly, you have all your hunt for moth
ing! The royal quarry seems to know
something about flank movements and
strategy as well as your own gallant
selves"
Really, l don't understand, Miss
Bradford" said the puzzled soldier.
What is all this about escorts and
flank movements All, Miss Blithe-
dale as that lady appeared. apparent
ly nerved again to a welcome encoun-
er with the major; this is a most
charming coincidence. But explain,
please, Miss Bradford"
Then my sister narrated as follows:
The two ladies in question, bored to
death at the absence of the only OBJ
ject of interest-the men-had decided
on little expedition of their own.
They had hired one of the native
haunting cars, as we call them, with
its zebu team and native driver and
slowing a luncheon hamper in the
boot had driven out before the noon
day heat for the park"
Already in sight of the grove, they
had ben Mortified to see the sudden
appearance of a great tiger, who step
ped out from the underground beside
the road, disclosing his superb proper
lions and brilliant coloring as he first
gazed curiously towards them and then
lowered his head and began to stalk
after them in long strides.
Miss Blithedale uttered a terrified
shrek, the driver, turning, saw the
beast and wild with fear, first whipped
up his bullocks and then incontinently
fed into the Jungle
Meanwhile in the same moments, my
sister had been equally appalled,. But
Belle is a girl of pretty strong nerves,
as you may know, and though white
with fear she uttered no cry but silent
ly if wildly looked around for wea-
pom.
There was none, of course-but stay!
| "a oh /
from the nerveless hands of her COM
panion, opened it with vicious snap,
and thrust it sheer into the face of the
beast, who was not four feet away.
At the same time she closed her eyes
from sudden faintness but recovering
instantly she looked again and-he was
gone! She could just see the tail dis
appearing rapidly as he crawled among
the leaves in dire fright.
Without an instants hesitation my
sister sprang to the box, whipped up
the slow bullocks, drove the few rods
to the bungalow with Miss Blithedale
clinging to her and alternately moan
ing and screeching, as we learned in
private.
That was five hours before; Miss
Blithedale had absolutely refused to
return with the cowardly native driver
who had arrived before them, and my
sister had laughingly vowed that in
that case she would go back alone, ask
ing no better protection than the cherry
parasol.
'You have revolutionized the tiger
hunt for the future, Miss Bradford,
said the major, with his eyes full of ad
miration at the tale which my sister
told so lightly and laughingly as tt
rob it of any trace of egotism. "Here
after we may expect to see long lines O
heaters file through the jungle armed
with red umbrellas, and flaming cot
ton stockades about the villages
There was some discussion as to thu
identity of this particular beast, bu
it was generally allowed to be thu
same we had been hunting, if for n,
other reason than to turn the jok
against ourselves, the empty-handet
nimTods
| We started back to town and joking
l ly made a great show Of surroundin
the car as protection on every side.
But it turned out to be no joke
2 When half way back (the major. an
I myself riding beside the car, Their
/ arose frightened cries ahead, and tn
2 leaders Of the calyacade came tumblin
r back upon us in the widest fear.
p The major and dashed to the from
S There in the middle Of the road stoo
his kingship glazing at the processio
= with blazing eyes.
/ We flung ourselves from our horse
r. ,,vcI,,g O,,w -iao1 oud No bod boo