Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-01-30

her ears pricked up and one eye Sa1
closed.
Stili uncertain she crept a bit noarsxs
snined the corner Of the blanket an
touched it with her paw, ready to toucN
IL harder IL IL stirred. With anothes
wriggle she came close enough to snin
the saddle against which wac Ieaninn
What an opportunity for stndy from
the lie, II the morrow would only have
taken thought for the things of Itself
But her jaws were within six inches d
my ribs, inside which a heart was
humping furiously.
Scarcely moving my wrist I oouYd
touch her throat with the muzzle of mo
revolver, but no ball could ever pens.
trate that mat of hair.
one was indolently interested-half
asleep l wondered If l could possablp
part the hair, and ventured to touch heu
throat Just under the ear, moving the
muzzle only enough to push back lfttle
fur
My cold finger trembled on the trfg.
ger, ready to take my only chance the
moment she rebelled when. by the loys
Though stupid with fear I reaI,zeN
that she liked it and that could profls
ny the same. Cautiously increasing tho
motion | went deeper. for the mat was.
thick and one shot must do the work.
But the harder l scratched the better
she purred. When 1 stopped for an in
slant, to see If had reached the skin.
she rolled her head to my hand. pre.
clsely like cat and looked at me I'm
such gentle way that, fool that waa.
IL reused most unnecessary sentiment.
by degrees l brought my free hand To
relieve the pistol. 1 know why. but
hardly expect that II can be believers
was afraid that by some accident ths
revolver would go of. So scratched
I'LL my arm ached. while the soft browu
eyes looked into mine as lovingly ~.
why, as cats eyes, when one "a NAH.
ing ner quite comfortable. Gradually
all her muscles relaxed and he, head
sank on my leg.
1t was a shock that sent Ice to my
spine My empty hand drew back ana
the muzzle touched her throat Tia
purrfng ceased. The eyelids uuivered.
L took the hint and scratched again G1f
she had purred herself to sleep. It was
my golden opportunity, but while ono.
hair OF me dripped with mortal terror.
the other half saw only a royal Bengal
beauty, and was warmed by a thrill Of
triumph as 1 watched the magnificent
head OF the queen Of the jungle restina
on my knee.
Shoot! Not for my life. But she yaa
dreaming Sho no a
culver shook her handsome coat Hes
tail swayed gracefully. A dream growf
sounded and in the paws, so close to me,
the giistening claws appeared.
She was tigerI When she woke she
would call on me for lunch. Only now
she was at my mercy. My hand tremhled
as 1t brought the muzzle again to ths
mark. Her drowsy eyes half opened.
with sigh of relief that IL was all q
dream. and she began to purr.
Cold perspiration was on my fore
head, but | laid the pistol down and
scratched again till suddenly prickina
up her ears she sprang to her feet.
leaped back and crouched.
caught the revolver again for a des-
perate chance, but II was too late. With
savage yelp and bound she disap-
peared in the depths of the cave and In
an instant there flashed back at me two
yellow balls of light Panic-strIcken Z
bolted for the tree where | had left my
horse. but all that remained of him
could only tell me on what my lady
dined. that she had not cared for me.
also discovered the cause OF her dis
turbance. however, for the Lancers were
marching up the trail