The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-07-22
lcapErishl. nr aha.lslarg 81. Cd

tflN Nll y EAtHs
A year PASSED, and stil the tigeE
was a captive. He could hardly be
called a cub now, for in twelve
mcBth be had grown into a magnificent
brute If exceptional beauty Of size
and sinew, which his captivity seemed
in no wise TO have blighted. He had
also developed in wisdom, and had be-
come-not contented, nol-one had
but to look in the inscrutable shining
eyes 10 realize that he was not born
TO subsiae into unambitious, lgnomln-
ious eontenment with his lotz-but
neither was he the rebellious cub who
Lad bruised his neck with the white
mans fetter, and almost eaten out his
heart in vain desires after freedom.
This was another creature masking
his real nature behind lazy ease Of
movement, yelling the fierce fire In his
eyes for days together, and estranglng
himself behind a barrier Of indiiieF-
ence which was incomprehensibIe, and
therefore 10 be distrusted
"a fellow can't tell said Marshall.
Hang il am he see4ns tanie enough,
and yot nc hasn't got the looks oG a
humble captive about him. Whatever
/ may think at other times can neveE
meet those steady, soft eyes OF his
without quiver, they're too steady
and too soft, YOU see, though shall
admire them behind the bars in the
Zoo, f. We ever get them there"
The hunters had moved farther
away from the forest, and, the tiger
being so tame, 1t was deemed safe at
times 70 let him run loose when the
men were about. He would answer to
a call, and SO made himself very use
FIJI in ibe catching of small animals,
where his duties we're those OF a
trained ioopaMs As time passed he
became qaite an ally In the chase, ana
bis proficiency ured the men into
taking him out after big game His
sole r.yal On these occasions was
Nero The camp dog, and after each
limiting performance the enmity
waxed more deadly
Ono evening the hunters were sit-
ting al the tent door, and the tiger
was lying in his chain. apparently
asleep, when Nero began to bark fu-
riousiy and, looking up, the men saw.
a flii4rovn. stag standing like cTea.
ura dased some 20 yards away.
/ Chased oui Of the forest by one enemy,
it had fiea here to meet another, foT,
alm6ss before they had sighted 1t. o
savage roar caused them both to
I spfne 70 tHeir feet In time 70 see the
/ tiger bound past them without touch
ing the ground, and set off IN pursuit
Of the deer The mighty muscles had
broken tie bitter bond at last, and
he was free!
The men mounted and rode forest!
wards, still thinking Of the tiger as tho
animal they had tanned and trained
and never eoubting but that he would
return as always, when he had killed
his prey Far off on the level land
we've fiscernible two black specks that
we're fast losing themselves in forest
gloom.
q guess that this is the finish" said
Marshall, but they still rode on. When
night fell they abandoned the search
and returned to the camp without
their captive. but by dawn next morn
ing they we're riding out with the hope
Of seeing him prowling near by. They
secured the pastures with no result,
ana then entered the forest for their
regular hunt, looking hither and thith-
err. where The vegetation permitted Il,
for the tiger. and seeing him not
/ Returning home at sundown, ailea
their long day. Marshall whistled for
4 Nero. whom they had pTposelys left
behind, bat there was no answering
bark.
strangei" commented the other,
ami they quickened their pace. When
they neared he tent they ceased TO
wonder, for, len feet away from the
door, lay . shapeless, mangled mass Of
flesh aud bones, and that was Nero.
Ono word shaped itself simultane-
ously on thelr lips-"Tiger." They
, crossed 10 me tent, side by side, and
at The door halted, for as MarshalI's
hand stirred The flap there came from
! within low, cultural snarl, new %
i both Of them yet not to be misundeT-
stood.
There's Just one thing for Il now,
said Marshall as be drew his revolver.
q cid not want to shoot him after
fighting him so long but guess I've
got to" lie swept the tent iiap aside,
and al that instant the gfeat body
which had been gathering itself 70
gether fer a spring, shot past him u
{ the narrow opening, lashing him with
E its tail. They listened for the soft
1 lhud when he fell TO earth, and the muf
j fed footballs that followed, dying a.
9 most instantly away into the hot 81
Ience Of the tropical night Then
!. marshall let the tent nap fall, and
S laughed a little jarring laugh, which
i his companion echoed,
( So il ves that the forest reclaimed
e her child. calling TO him with a yole'
, that never weafied through all 1l.