The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1906-05-04
A Tigers Choice

OF bengal, naQ gone to the JungleS on q
tiger hunt. The accident that befell
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 ravlne, when q 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 Iitters 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 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 COM
radeS, but when news of the tiger
came they insisted that he make an
attempt to kill the beast. 1t was be-
lieved 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 Overruled, and an hour before dark
set off 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
oh
elevated that he could see all around
him. He saw that the servant was
asleep and hesitated to call 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 it's 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 Off
but his being asleep puzzled the tiger.
The beast shifted and snuffed for q mo-
ment and then turned to the ham
mocks. He visited the captains before
he came to the major. He purred like
Il cat as he stood with his nose within
six inches of their faces, and it is a
thing hard to believe, but nevertheless
true that his 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
to 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 OCT his furred
tongue at intervals and licking at the
splints 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 it, but he after
ward said that it was the ordeal of his
life. The skin of his leg had been
broken and bled freely when he re-
ceiyed the greater hurt, but luckily for
him the surgeon had treated the hurt
with an antiSeptic very diSagreeable
to the tiger. The beast shifted and
ic1y no o1y xvi
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 visit but why go to that trouble
when he had four victims under his
nose? 1t 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 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 off to the jungle, and in his
| surprise and terror the man made no
cutlery until half the space had been
| covered. Then the tiger uttered a roar
| Of defiance and increased his pace. The
| camp was at once alarmed, and great
| was the surprise of the officers to find
| that ali 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 q dozen native dogs to assist
| him. The beast and his burden had
| passed through strip of jungle about
| forty rods wide and then reached rough