The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-02
A JUNGLE TALE.
BY DICK NAPIER.

Ppyright, 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Col Aione, at the crossing of trails. in the bat Terai jungle, waiting a detacnmen' ILancers, several hours past due. The sun set like a drop-curtain, and stiil I ere was nothing to do but wait. Living my horse what liberty 1 dared, der d large tree, betook myself to the Ehnches. The noises of the night were 1lagreeable, but there was none ot the liiing and gnashing of teeth one reads but, and more to the point was the az Hk. of clinging to those branches. 5Ehen the dew had saturated my thin ltning and the night air, hot as 1t was.
 my teth chattering, fear forsook me. I Iols will rush in where angels fear, and Abpping from the tree l caught up my # huleand blanket and made for cave h noticed during the afternoon. Ekith lighted Vestas l went some dist i ee down, finding only a catty odor 4 Iich, to my drowsy senses, only sug- l kted the advisability of sleeping near ] entrance for fresh air. There, rolled 1.-the blanket, the saddle for a pillow, soon oblivious to everything. NIhe mouth of the cave was gray with Elrning when I woke, suddenly, tremb- E from head to foot; either from bad lam or a monstrous fright. While lay I Il as death, imagining everything, there knded about me a deep vibration, like first thrill of an organ, developing I 10 what might have been the purrtng ot I lat, under a mighty magnifying glass ] en, from down in the pitchy blackness l the cave there flashed on me two vel balls! great, glowing, bobblng. khile I lay stupidly staring they dip HI. for an instant disappeared, then * khed again, decidedly nearer.
 tried to exploit an idiotic yell, but had
 even the strength to extricate my re- 3 Eer.
 grew quickly lighter, or my eyes saw Her. for beyond the yellow balls i'm HhiateIy distinguished the outlines of { lale Bengal tiger, stretched at full 4 kth, herM whiskered chin resting be- len two ge paws. less than ten feet n me.
 4 nowing that one knows the worst i ldies him a bit. however bad 1t be,
 freeing my revolver cautiously < ted the hammer under the blanket. click was scarcely audible, but sud-
 flash of the yellow eyes and shiver 1 ho the paws was followed by an in- kely graphic insinuation. Long. gleam- 2 claws, like polished amber, protruded
 In the furry cushion and the purrlng . bed.
 moment later, satisfied that it was a 4 Ia alarm. the tiger deliberately began morning toilet and I discovered why
 had no immediate use for me. She
 been dining lately and heavily. Her Is and throat were besmeared with the S lnants of the feast. She worked on s n till her tongue was tired while I s trembling, knowing the folly of a pis- H shot from there, yet that my slightest E ion would land her upon me. 8 Ie sighed, lifted her haunches. curved 8 back in a tremendous stretch and & med, making an almost complete cir 4 Iof glistening, jagged, pointed teeth.
 h as, Heaven save me from ever haV- @ dashed on me again, about a gurgling, 4 Eering gullet, concluding by driving x claws deep into the hard bed of the
 and coming to rest still nearer me.
 Ion the new viewpoint she gave me
 Eher critical survey. then yawncd
 In, burying her very eyes in fur. l
 advantage of the opportunity to sit
 hnd had 1t not been for mortal terror
 hlld have roared when she opened her
 and discovered the transformation.
 jaws came together with a click pre-
 ling levity. She hung her head on one
 then on the other, her ears priched
 Ind one eye half closed.
 III uncertain. sheN crept a bit nearer.
 led the corner of the blanket, and
 he'd it with her paw. ready to touch
 larder if it stirred. With another
 Igle she came close enough to snIff
 saddle against which was leaning.
 hat an opportunity for study from the
 If the morrow would only have taken
 lgnt for the things of itself. But
 Jaws were within six inches of my
 inside which heart was humping
 iusly.
 freely moving my wrist I could touch
 throat with the Tnuzzle of my revol-
 but no ball could ever penetrate that
 tof hair.
 | was indolently interested-half
 ip. I wondered if could possibly
 the hair. and ventured to touch her
 1t just under the ear, moving the
 .le only enough to push back little