The daily Alaskan., 1906-05-04
A Tigers Choice

three of them on the second day was a curious one. The four were making their way up the dry bed of a nullah,
 or rayine, when tree growing on high bank suddenly caved into the ra'
 vine, catching and breaking bones for three of them. The officers were at.
 tended by fifty servants and beaters, and filters were soon constructed and they were borne back to camp
 On the third day after the accident
 word was brought in that a large tiger had visited a village four miles away
 the night previously and carried away woman. The fourth officer of the | party, who was a lieutenant, had, of course, given his services to hls com. | rades, but when news of the tiger came they insisted that he make an attempt to kill the beast It was be. ! Heyed that the feline would pay the ] village a second visit, and the officer
 would have to pass the night in hut l to be ready for him. He protested, but was overruIed, and an hour before dark l set of with his guns and guides. The | injured officers by 10 o'clock were all asleep, and an hour later the attendant | also slumbered.
 The major had slept for three hours when his thirst awoke him. His ham, mock was swung very close to the ground and his head and shoulders so elevated that he could see all around ] him. He saw that the servant was 1 asleep and hesitated to call to him for | fear of awakening his brother officers. He had been awake about ten minutes when a great tiger suddenly appeared close beside the sleeping native. The beast must have made its way over the clear and open ground from the jungle, and as there was no mir stirring the horses had not scented him. He was a male tiger in his prime, and that he had come for a victim could not be doubted. He must have been surprised that no better watch was kept. Had the servant been awake he would have instantly been seized and carried of. but his being asleep puzzled tho tiger. The beast suifted and snuTed for a mo- ment and then turned to the ham mOcks. He visited the captains, before be came to the major He purred like a eat as he stood with his nose within six inches of their faces, and it is a thing hard to believe, but nevertheless true, that bis purring awoke each in turn. Neither of the men moved so much as an eyelash while under the scrutiny of the beast. They were men who had hunted the jungle before. and many dangers had hardened their nerves.
 When the tiger left Captain Burton 70 purr in the ears of Captain BrOokes, the former opened his eyes and watch ed his further movements. For what seemed i've minutes the terror of the jungle stared into the face of the sleep ing man, trusting out his furred tongue at intervals and licking at the spllnts and bandages of the broken arm. Fortunately there was no blood to excite his appetite. Then came the majors turn. He knew 1t would come and had prepared for 1t, but he after ward said that it was the ordeal of his life. The skin of hls leg had been broken and bled freely when he re- Celved the greater hurt, but luckily for him the surgeon had treated the hurt with an antiseptic very disagreeable to the tiger. The beast snined and licked and then fell back with a growl of displeasure.
 For two or three minutes he stood staring at the horses and the tents of the natives and seemed inclined to pay them a visit, but why go to that trouble when he had four victims under hls nose? It was such a good thing that be was troubled which to select He in- sppcted each of them In turn again and was still undecided, when one of the native servants helped him to de- eide the problem. The man awakened and came out of his tent to see If the horses were all right He had no idea of danger, but stood and yawned and | stretched.
 Probably reasoning that an alarm would be given in a moment the tiger whirled and seized the servant by the right arm close to the shoulder and whirled the burden over his back and galloped oG to the jungle, and h bis | surprise and terror the man made no outcry until half the space had been l covered Then the tiger uttered a roar l of defiance and increased his pace. The , camp was at once alarmed, and great was the surprise of the officers to find 1 that all had been awake and watching. l Some of the servants fired on guns : and ran to the edge of the jungle with 1 blazing brands, but, of course the tiger ! held to his prey.
 l Early in the morning the lieutenant ] appeared. He had passed the night in l the village, but no tiger had appeared. 1 He at once took up the trail of this One' having a dozen native dogs to assist 1 him. The beast and his burden ha,
 passed through a strip of jungle about | forty rods wide and then reached rough and open ground. All the way through the jungle the man had caught the bushes with his hands to detain the