Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-03
DAILY SHORT STORY
A sIEsTA IN THE JUNGLE.

1. Ell
Major Ridan of the Twelfth native
cavalry, India. was hunting in Ben
gal with a small party, and one after
noon he wandered away from camp
a short distance and stretched out TN
der tree for 4 nap. He had not
slept above 4 quarter of an hour when
he was aroused by what seemed to
be the purring of cat, only the
sound was much louder. He had
never heard the purr of 4 tiger or
panther, but realized in an instant that
one or the other had come creeping
upon him as he slept. He was lying
on his left side and facing the west,
and the beast had come up behind him.
The major opened his eyes. but did
not move Il finger. The beasts nose
touched the mans shoulder and snuff
ed at his face, and the long whiSkers
on his muZzle tickled the mans cheek,
but he did not move. Had he raised
hand or foot the beast would have
seized him by the neck at once.
The tiger, as was aftervTard aScer-
tanned, had his lair within 4 few hun
dred feet of where the soldier was ~
ing. After q minute or two Il paw
was placed on the officers shoulder
and he was turned over on the broad
of his back. Through his eye winkcrS
he caught sight of the paw and then
realized that he was in the clutch of
a full grown tiger. For the moment
he was rejoiced. \ panther hasn't the
good nature of Il tiger and is also more
treacherouS. y tiger Will starve be-
fore he will feed on anything that he
has not killed with his own paws,
while q panther will grab ut anything
that comes in his way. Between the
two the choice was with the tiger, AMI
the major felt almost elated over his
luck.
When the man had been turned on
his back, the tiger sat up like dog
and purred like the great cat he was
The man had on 4 hunting Jacket with
silver buttons. They seemed to be
objects of curiosity TO the beast, and
he touched the six of them in success
sion and slightly pulled at them with
his paw.
The soldiers hat was lying on the
grass near his head. The tiger reached
for it ard began TO play with it rs you
have seen puppy with glove or rag.
He struck it to the right and then To
the left ana then jumped after it and
seized it in his teeth and gave it toss
into the air. He played with the hat
for at least ten minutes and then sat
up and yawned ana returned to his
victim.
Pretty soon Il spur on the majors
right boot heel attracted his attention.
r nj ~
tected the rays of the sun fltering
down through the foliage. He licked
at the metal and hurt his tongue on
the rowel. ..
With a low growl he drew back and
for n minute seemed to cogitate Then
he began licking at and biting the
strap. which was also new and full of
oil, and in minute or two he had the
spur off the boot. He then lay down
and chewed at the strap as if he liked
the taste, but after a time flung it
aside and rolled over on his back and
worked his body about on the grass
as if bothered with flcaS.
The beast was rolling and purring
when one of the horses in camp ut
tered a neigh. The major was watch
ing through half closed lids, and the
move the tiger made aStOuishcd him.
He turned like 4 flash and bounded
six feet into the air, to whirl again and
stand head to camp. For five minutes
he stood watching and shifting and
growing. His tail was held straight
out, hris ears lay back, and one paw
was held about six inches from the
ground as if ready TO strike. AS the
neigh was not repeated the tiger re-
turned to the major.
The major was rolled over at least
n dozen times by the tiger, and the
beast leaped over him back and forth !
like Il dog 1T play, and he seemed to |
get Il good deal of amusement out |
of il and 70 preserve his good nature. |
lie finally fastened his teeth i'll the |
mans hunting belt and lifted Him |
clear of the ground rs easily rs a man |
might lift a kitten. If the soldier had |
not been told over and over again |!
that Il tiger eats only what he kills, |
he would have made sure that he was |
to be carried off.
lie had a revolver in his belt, and |
as his right hand fell down it encoun
tered the butt of the weapon. lie
might have drawn it and killed the |
beast or 4 shot might have fright |
ened him away. but it was hardly 4
chance in hundred. 1t may be that |
tie tiger was holding the man up TO
see if there vas life in linn and Y )
hoping to feel linn make move /
ment. If there had been the stir Of 4
hand death would have been swift I
and mcrciIess. After swinging the
man pendulum fashion for a full min
ute the beast laid him down rs care /.
fully as you please, Enawed the belt |
in two and pulled il OF. and. carrying
one end in his mouth. he frolicked
away and was hidden by the jungle.
An hour later the majors party had
formed q Gordon around the tigers
lair and sent in the beaters. At the
first uproar the beast charged out with
4 fierce growl and killed n native with