The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-07-12

tut, nc lSdpSu 10 nus IeeL anu ClS-
appeared like shadow in the jungle.
| / turned TO see what had become OF
/ him and what his reasons were for
this unlooked.for desertion. The cause
came swiftly to light; violent shock
\ threw me TO the ground, and my
rife was dashed from my hand as a
huge tiger snrang clean over me.
A tree was near; made for II, and
managed 10 climb up just In time. Ny
sudden disappearance evidently puz-
zled the tiger; he stopped, looking
from right to left. / glanced round
and saw TO my relief that Farquhar-
| son had also taken refuge In tree.
But the tree into which he climbed
was almost TOO slight TO bear his
weight; he had perched on a narrow
| fork and was clinging with one hand,
holding his rife with he other. ], up-
armed. crouched in the taller tree. My
rife was lying ten yards away. The
tiger was q full-grown beast Of great
beauty. Farquharson's legs were only
n few feet from the ground. and there
was an excellent chance for the brute
10 tear him from his place of refuge.
The tiger fixed his glaring eyes full
on my companion. crouched. and pre-
pared 10 spring Then Farquharson's
rife rang out, and his would-be assail.
ant rolled over evidently shot in the
side. My first Impression was that
the bullet had finished matters. ! was
about TO descend. when the beast
| growled and staggered 10 his feet. He
rushed furiously at Farquharson and
drove his claws deep into the latter's
! leg just above the knee. The flesh
was ripped down 10 the ankle. and
making another spring, the tiger Sc
cured another hold on the leg causing
c second wound
leaped to the ground. and had all
but secured my rife when the tiger
saw me. He wheeled. made sudden
spring and pinned me TO the earth. !
wrenched my hunting-knife from my
belt. drove IL deep under the brute's
left ear, and with furious effort sew.
cred his throat. cutting clean through
the jugular vein. He rolled of me- fell
forward and died. | staggered 10 my
feet, shaken, bruised, but unwounded.
As did so. Farquharson slipped from
the tree and fell 10 the ground in a
faint. Just then some one touched
me from behind. and looking back
saw tho Hindu woman beside me.
Give me that handkerchief from
around your head" ! said, hurriedly.
Il must bind IL around his leg, and
make tourniquet 10 stop the bleed.
ing"
She handed me the handkerchief,
and / did what was necessary. The
light was now fading fast, but saw
through the high grass of the jungle
several more dusky faces peering at
us. Presently the natives came for
ward and helped me 10 carry FarQu-
harson back to the village.
II is needless to say that we were
the heroes of the hour. but had little
thought for anything but the terrible
condition Of my poor friend. dread
! ed bloodpoisoning the result almost
invariably Of all bad tiger wounds, and
In the morning saw from the high de-
lirium and rapidly rising temperature
that II had actually set in. l had a
| small medicine chest with me and did
the best | could for him. but feared
! for the worst The native woman
Rhanee Nee, had instituted herself his
nurse.
"His life will be spared" she said.
1--WE have certain remedies for tiger
wounds in the jungle that will help
the sahib."
| I have great faith in some of these
native cures, handed down as they
are from parent to son, and containing
the germs, many of them, of our own
most valuable medicines; but ! per-
ceived. to my alarm. that they had lit
tie or no effect upon Farquharson
Two or three days passed away, and
! had almost abandoned all hope for
his recovery. | ives pacing about out
side the chiefs hut, wondering wheth'
er Mrs. Farquharson had already
sailed for England, when a clear Eng
lish voice sounded on my ears. and
turning, saw her standing behind
me. / uttered a cry OF surprise. but
she checked me with wave of her
hand.
Yes, have come, Doctor Halifax,
she said in agitated tones. Since
wrote Dick that awful letter l have
been nearly crazy with remorse.
made up my mind 10 follow you both
to Jubbulpore. From Jubhulpore
came to Morar; there the news of the
accident and his dangerous illness
reached me. Tell me the worst; is he
dying?"
Almost" l responded. You mus;
lie prepared to see him greatly
changed"
We went TO the hut in the door oil
which Rhanee Nee, the black woman
was standing.
'Rhanee." said. this is mem.sahib
the good sahibs wife. She has come
all the way from Bombay 10 see him. .
Rhanee fixed her lustrous eyes on
the white girl, and the latter stretched
out her arms impulsively.
you are his nurse" she exclaimed
II will tell you everything. l have
been bad wife; / have tortured the
sahib for what he could not help. Save
him for me, bring him back from the