The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-09-23
n SieSfa In
The JdnSle
copyright. 1904. by T. G. Mcclure,

hoon ne wandered away from camp
a short distance and stretched out I'M
der a tree for nap. He had not
slept above 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 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 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 afterward ascer-
tanned, had his lair within a few hun
dred feet of where the soldier was ly-
ing. After q minute or two a paw
was placed on the officers shoulder
and he was turned over on the broad
of his back. Through his eye winkers
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. A panther hasn't the
good nature of tiger and is also more
treacherous. A tiger will starve be-
fore he will feed on anything that he
has not killed with his own paws,
while a panther will grab at anything
that comes In his way. Between the
two the choice was with the tiger, and
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 q 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 and began to play with it as you
have seen puppy with glove or rag.
He struck it to the right and then to
the left and then jumped after 1t 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 and returned to his
victim.
Pretty soon q spur on the majors
right boot heel attracted his attention.
It was of brass and quite new and re-
fected the rays of the sun filtering
down through the foliage. He licked
at the metal and hurt his tongue on
the rowel.
With low growl he drew back and
for a 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 fleas.
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 astonished him.
He turned like fash and bounded
six feet into the air, to whirl again and
stand head to camp. For five minutes
he stood watching and shifting and
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
4 dozen times by the tiger, and the
beast leaped over him back and forth
like a dog at play, and he seemed to
ret q good deal Of amusement out
Of it and to preserve his good nature.
He finally fastened his teeth, in the
mans hunting belt and lifted him
clear of the ground as easily as q man
might lift q kitten. If the soldier had
not been told over and over again
that q tiger eats only what he kills,
he would have made sure that he was
to be carried off.
He had a revolver In his belt, and
rs his right hand fell down it encoun-
tered the butt of the weapon. He
might have drawn it and killed the
BEAST or shot might have fright
ened him away, but it was hardly
chance in hundred. 1t may be that !
he tiger was holding the man up to !
zee If there was life in him and was
hoping to feel him make a move
nent. If there had been the stir Of
hand, death would have been swift ,
Ind merciless. After swinging the |
nan pendulum fashion for a full min
lite the beast laid him down as care
July as you please, gnawed the belt
n two and pulled it of, and, carrying
,ne end in his mouth, he frolicked
lway and was hidden by the jungle.
An hour later the majors party had
'ormed Gordon around the tigers
air and sent in the beaters. At the
lrst uproar the beast charged out with
| fierce growl and killed q native with
me blow of the paw which had tsese
d the soldier so gently. Three min &
s.cs later he wheeled and charged in
he other direction, and, though he
received bullets from two different
'ifes, he sprang upon Captain West