The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-03-25

There. one day, In the jungle. we set
up great trap. II was, roughly speak
ing. ON somewhat the same plan as the
mousetrap wherein hangs bait to
tempt the mouse to enter. No sooner
does the mouse's weight press on the
floor Of the trap. than the door springs
shut. leaving him prisoner.
The tiger trap was q huge wooden
cage. built along this same line. The
bait was to be goat. hung up In the
cages center. by the hind leg. The
sound OF its blating was expected to
draw the Striped Death" to the spot.
The cage had been strapped together
In haste and doubted its strength.
Ghunga, however. who had built 1t, as
sured me that 1t was strong enough to
hold any tiger. We went to inspect II
at dusk. and to wait near for the
sound that should tell us the door had
fallen shut with the Striped Death"
safe in The cage.
We had set up the trap In small
clearing In the jungle. still doubted
ing the door OPEN stepped inside and
set to work rendering the willowy bars
more firm in their sockets.
The day was fearfully hot. The cage
stood In the very middle of the tiny
clearing ! withdrew to several rods
distant and sat down in, the dense
shade OF the jungle boughs where
could watch the work with less fear of
sunstroke Remachunda strolled over
and threw himself at my feet. We sat
idly watching the younger. more active
of the two shikarris at work. and
thanked fate that my place was in the
shade instead Of the blazing sunlight.
Then, like thunderciap out of the |
clear sky, came the tragedy. A CLEAN
Of tawny fur shot from the impenetra- |
BILE shadows at the side nf the jungle |
farthest from us. Before either Rema-
or myself could spring to our
feet the Striped Death" had reached
the door Of the cage. rushed fearlessly
through the propped-open door and fall
len upon Ghunga Dhass,
The doomed man had looked up only
n time to see the monster enter the
age. His rifle 1.-THE only one we had
brought along that day. lay just out
Tide the trap. 1t might as well have
,een a thousand miles away. for all
he use 1t was to any of us three at
hat awful crisis. when events travelled
~ fractions Of second.
Ghunga, hero that he was. hurled
he heavy hammer he was using
traight at the Indoors, wrinkled face
If the creature. The hammer must
lave weighed several pounds. It was
,urled by powerful man, to whom
despair had lent an added strength. 1t
truck the tiger about midway between
he eyes. Such a blow would have
tunned an OK or killed a man. The
Striped Death" needed 1t no more
han IL it had been a pebble tossed at
lin by child.
The next instant his great paw
truck. And Ghunga Dhass' skull
rashed in like smashed eggshell.
All this had not taken more than one
econd. The tiger sank his teeth In
he dead mans shoulder and lifted him
rom the ground, turning to leave the
rap as he did so.
Remachunda rushed forward toward
he rifle. yelling as he came l drew
ny revolver and fired point blank once,
vice, thrice at the tiger. At that range
here was no such thing as missing.
'ut unfortunately, with a light caliber
istol there was no such thing as kill
ng. Yet our combined attack had its
fleet. With a growl, the brute dropped
ihunga Dhass. and at one spring was
ack in the jungle.
Remachunda. unmindful Of my for
ner orders not to kill, ran into the
UNCLE after the slayer. rife in hand.
IN hour later he returned. bafied.
The village wept over the dead man.
III except his wife. She was a beauti-
ul native woman, and had adored her
lunter husband. Yet she sat dry-eyed,
lasping to her breast their three
baby.
1T will be time to weep when his
layer Is captured" she said In reply
o query from Remachunda.
Listen. sahib." she added, turning
o me. the Striped Death must be
aught. not slain. That would release
he spirit within him. Let him be made
'aptive and grinned at by the curious
n a cage. That will break his heart
md shame his spirit. That is more
nan death to such as he. Now 1t is
ny right as next OF kin to catch him.
10 you know why he will not consent
o enter your traps? It is because they
ire baited with beasts, and he Graves
human flesh. It Is not that he fears a
rap. He entered when my husband
vas the bait. But he care not for
'easts. Let the trap be baited with
human flesh"
And then she unfolded her plan. Thel
rap was to be further Strengthened.
hen a partition was to- be fastened
midway across II. On the side nearest
he open door lamb was to be hung.
IN the opposite side she. the widow.
ras to sit with her child in her arms.
he tiger. entering the trap to seize
he human bait. would be caught by
he springing of the door.
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