Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-04

did nothing of the sort; for presently
to his utter amazement, he realized
that the tiger was content to merely
follow him. And follow him it did to
the stream, where it laid itself down
upon the bank and watched him cross!
| Warned by his recollection of the
manner in which his story had beer
received in Thakore, Tulsi Ram was
careful not to repeat it heedlessly tc
the people of Kerail His wife was filled
with awe and gratitude to the gods fol
their intervention, and made haste tc
fulfill her vows. The danger was past
she assured him, nor would it threaten
! again. So 1t was with an easy heart
that Tulsi Ram set out the next morn
ing.
But as he arrived at the stream the
runner became aware of a foreboding
of danger. Strong, however, in the
conviction that the gods would pre-
serve him, he continued, yet not with
out uneasy and furtive glances back
ward.
Scarcely fifty PAGES had he gone
from the ford when once more the IT,
ger appeared upon the path behind
him, and with groan of despair the
runner prepared to endure the horror
and uncertainty of the previous day
if not death.
Marvellous to relate, the procedure
of the previous morning was adhered
| to in practically every detail.
| The wits of Thakore had been
sharpening their jeers, and Tulsi
Rams arrival was the signal for q
roar of rough chaff that goaded him
into swearing upon his string that
the tiger had again followed him that
morning.
The sacredness of the oath silenced
outward expressions of disbelief, yet
many were there who hailed eagerly
any suggestion that they should try to
gain a sight of such a miracle, and in
the end they determined to go into the
forest and to take up before dawn
such positions as would command the
path-all this out of hearing by Tulsi
Ram, lest it might seem that they still
doubted his wonderful story.
And the gods were good to Tuls
Ram. In the perverseness Of things
these spectators might well have been
denied proof of the runners story till
they tired Of the early rising and trou-
BILE which seemed essential to success
Perched upon trees, with bated breath
the men of Thakore beheld for them
selves the marvel repeated.
In the course Of time Tulsi Ram
grew so used to being accompanied by
the tiger that he became convinced
that the animal embodied his tutelary
spirit, and he felt uneasy when the
exigencies of it's existence caused its
absence on hunting excursions, and left
him to run alone through the forest.
On one such occasion he had barely
forded the stream than a vicious grunt
above him, on the bank, apprised him
of a danger he had barely time tc
avoid by learing aside.
A boar, unable to arrest it's trucu-
lent charge, splashed into the stream
Before it was out Tulsi Ram, holding
his bells that they might not jingle
was fleeing up the path, trusting tc
make some easy tree in time. The
boar was after him, though, giving him
no opportunity.
| The runner, in a fieeting glance, be-
held it almost upon him. He swerve6
sharply and it ratified past, grunting
In a flash it had turned, and the mar
again avoided it's deadly rush. But
how long could he maintain the game
especially after a seven-mile run? Al
the next charge, therefore, he stood
| firm till the boar almost had him, ther
stabbed and just escaped the fatal col.
lision.
Quicker still-the pain inflaming 1t!
rage-the boar wheeled to charge
again. AS he turned the 1.-the, striped
| form of the tiger-Tulsi Rams tiger
flashed out from behind bush. The
next instant the combatants were los
in the dust, while the air throbbed will
squeals and snarls. Petrified the run
ner stood, watching.
Hither and thither dashed the boar
grazing against trees to rub off hi:
assailant. But the tigers hold wa!
perfect, and his talons sank cruelty in
to the bristly body he held. Presently
a paw shot out and sank in a grill
around the pigs snout. Some moment!
they paused thus, straining, the one t.
prevent and the other to achieve the
dislocation he had worked for. Blu
the boar was tough, and bravely sus
tanned the strain of the powerful lev
erage eXerted Suddenly Stripes" le
go the snout. For a moment the boar!
head swung to the right, but the tigel
was quicker and darted at the exposed
throat.
The boar ceased to grunt. In a few
seconds it was tottering. 1t fell, ant
the tiger drank it's blood pantingly.
Thus long Tulsi Ram waited. Then
lest the fierceness of the battle hat
changed his guardians disposition to-
wards him, he stole away, made de-
tour and ran towards Thakore.
One more extraordinary incident O
these months awaits narration to com
plete this true account of an unfortu
nate mans experience.
Whenever it was in the neighbor'
hood the tiger accompanied Tulsi Ram
So secure did the runner become il
his belief that it haunted the tract
only to protect him that he had M
scruples in asking a friend to act a!
substitute on a certain happy occasion
in his family. Nor did Hari Chan feal
to meet his friends guardian angel
Alas, for their confidence! That day
the mails did not reach Thakore, mol
did Hari Chan return alive to Kerail.
They found him dead in the path, {
few yards from the stream-strucl
down from behind. But no attemp