Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-10-15
CALLING THE TIGERS
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1 NaAl8tttF AN "f9Asl f'+*H*fA NA~F
could have taken Il was his body serr-
ant. who had served him faithfully
and honestly for many years The
man protested bis innocence. but the
eoioncl ordered him fiosged. The &C.
c,.sed was high caste man. and
logging meant social death 70 him.
III his distress be sent Tor an old man
named poerunsia. The OLD man came
and said 10 the ceiouel;
Syng Rang = innocent. II yot whlp
him. be must die BY bis own hand to
wipe oat ihe disgrace. Spare him. and
I win do mg best 70 flnd the thief who
stole your ruby
The colonel at once reasoned that
Doorunda was partner IN the theft
and announced that the fsogging would
take place on the morrow IL the germ
wns not given up. IL was pot restored.
and Syng Rang was puhNeiy whipped
and committed suicide the same even
Ing. As for the old man. he dssap-
pearcd from Bangalore. and theirs were
those who thought be might have tak.
en- the plumber with him. -Four months
after the disgrace and death Of synw
Rang and when the event was all but
forgotten the colonel and four other
officers Of the Fifth went on tiger
hunt into the foothills o. the western
Gharts
Three or four tigers and a couple
Of pantherw were baggsd. and not
an accident had happencd. Then one
OF the servants reported that old Doc
runda had been s9en near the camp
and when accosted by enc who knew
him well had run away. His only OBJ
tect could be revenge. but yet the mat
ter was treated lightly. No search was.
made for him until his presence was
reported again. and then the servants
who were sent out did no; wish 10
ind him. He had reputation OF
which they stood IN fear. After three
or four days however. be entered
camp one day when al the officers
and most OF the servants were away
on the hunt To one OF the syces. or
grooms. he said
II do not wish that harm should
come TO my own kin. but ! viii de-
stroy the sahihs root and branch. On
the third night from this. an hour after
midnight. you viii bear nae singing be-
hind those rocks up there. When you
do 20. you must not lose a moment In
climbing tree. Tell this TO all 9TH
ers but say not q word 20 the sahitss.~
'.But what IL TO happen when you
sinxT asked the groom
What Is to happen win happen"
With that poorunda disappeared. to
be seen no more. The groom notified
all the other servants as they came In
and then went to his master with the
story. The Eve officers were made up
Of the colonel. major and three cap
tsins. and the groom served one OF the
latter. The story was passed along TO
the colonel. who received II with q
saeer and sent out word that ~ the
old man WIS caught sight " again be
should be made prisoner and held for
Jogging. III any OF the officers was
Inclined TO heed the warning. he gave
no outward sign Of II. but the servants
quietly prepared to obey the injunc-
ton. AZ midnight on the third night.
while the white men slept. the dark
skinned servitors left their causpfires
and mounted into trees and remained
ssieut and watchful For an hour all
around them was quiet and peaceful,
and some Of them had begun 10 laugh
at their own fears when the shrili
waiting voice OF the old man came 10
them from the rocks II was an In
cantation he walled out. and he kept
II up for ten minutes. None Of the on
GERS awoke. The servants shiycresi
with fear rs the voice continued. and
the horses stamped and snortssi and
pulled at their haiters- II was strange
that nlen who sleep as lightly IS sol
diers do should not have been aroused
but II was 50 ia this case Two or
three minutes after the song ended
the natives looked down from their
perches to see old Doorunda enter
camp with as many as dozen tigers
frisking around MIN ike so many
dogs. He halted before the colonefs
tent and stood stili for a moment. and
then. clapping his hands. he cried out.
Now. now. now. New you may
rend and tear and kill to the last"
A horrible tragedy followed The
tigers separated and rushed upon the
tents. aud Ia only one case Was shot
fired. II was all over In Ave minutes.
Two OF the horses broke away and
escaped, but the others were dragged
down. The maddeued tigers sprang
Mt the trees and ragged about. but Of
Tered no harm 10 the old man In their
midst. When all was over. be quoted
them with a whistle. and. standing In
the center OF the camp. he said TO
the terror stricken men IN the trees
above him:
HAD the sahfb colonel sPsrsd gag
Rang would have spared him This
is my vengeance for the wrong that
was done an innocent man Tomorrow
you wiz go back 10 Bangaiore and tell
them what has happened, and tell