The daily Alaskan., 1906-01-04
A Tigers Choice

three of them on the second day was d curious one. The four were making their way up the dry bed of nullah' or ravine, when a tree growing on a 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 large tiger had visited a village four miles away the night previously and carried away A woman. The fourth officer of the party, who was q lieutenant, had, of course, given his services to his con- rades. but when news of the tiger came they insisted that he make an attempt to kill tie beast. It was be- lleved that the feline would pay the village a second visit, and the officer would have to pass the night in a hut to be ready for him. He protested, but was overruleI. and an hour before dark set off with his g"us 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 thee hours when his thirst awJkc him. Ills 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 asleep and hcsitatCd 10 Can to him for fear of awakening his brother officers. He had been awake about ten minutes when q 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 air stirring the horses had not scented him. He was 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 or. but his being asleep puzzled the tiger. The beast sniffed and snuTed for mo- ment and then turned to the ham, mocks. He visited the captains before he came to the major, He purred like a cat as he stood with his nose within six inches of their faces, and it is thing hard 10 believe, but nevertheless true, that bis purring awOle 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 five minutes the terror of the jungle stared into the face of the sleep ing man, thrusting 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 it would come and had prepared for 1t, but he after ward said that 1t was the ordeal of his life. The skin of his leg had been broken and blel 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 sniffed and licked and then fell back with a growl of dlspleaSure.
 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 his nose? It was such a good thing that he was troubled which to select. He in- spected 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 q moment, the tiger whirled and seized the servant by the right arm close to the shoulder and whlrled the burden over his back and galloped or to the jungle, and in his surprise and terror the man made no outcry until half the space had been covered. Then the tiger uttered q roar of defiance and increased his pace. The camp was at once alarmed, and great was the surprise of the officers to find that all had been awake and watching. Some of the servants fired off guns and ran to the edge of the jungle with blazing brands, but, of course, the tiger held to his prey.
 Early in the morning the lieutenant appeared. He had passed the night in the village, but no tiger had appeared. He at once took up the trail of this one, having a dozen native dogs to assist him. The beast and his burden hat passed through q 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 tiger, but had always been wrenched