The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1913-10-27

stonally there were what looked
like islands of trees In the midst
of quivering sea. A feeling of
great joy came over me as looked
far away into space. From being
in the jungle so long. 1 had felt
penned up, and now that feeling
had vanished. Then another little
thrill came over me as the land
scape brought back pleasant mem
cries of the old days on the cattle
range.
At the end of four-mile drive,
following the train-trip, we pulled
up at quite a sizeable house, with
a high veranda.
Mounting the steps, I was met by
a tall, dark, handsome girl ("Bet a
nickel that's Halley's sister," I said
to myself. II have a letter of in
PRODUCTION to Mr.. Jack Haley"
said, and then added. rs he at
homer"
"Yes-that is, my brother is
back from the ranch-and though
he isn't in just now I expect him
any moment" she said in a pleas
ant voice. Hes goin' right back
to the ranch tomorrow" she con-
tinued; "he just came up to town
to get some hounds"
"Houndsw I exclaimed, evincing
perfect surprise. "Why, what is he
going to do with them?" I asked.
well, there is a big tiger KILN
his stock out at the ranch, and he
is going to use the hounds to hunt
him."
Some one closed the gate with a
bang and swung down the path
with long strides. Then Jack Haley
and well he might, for he stood
six feet six in his socks. He was
1.-THE, well built, dark skinned. dark
eyed, and had tangle of black
hair. In a word, I liked Jack
Haley the moment I clapped my
eyes on him; and when he laughed
there was a mischievous twinkle
in his eve, and his teeth CLEANED
with very Wilderness.
Day broke over the River Ber-
bice. The sun rose pale-yellow,
and the dirty, oily waters reflected
the brazen glimmer of the sky.
over the unresponsive desolation
came the chug -chub-chug of gas
oline launch. Haley, the writer and
the hounds were sliding upstream
that is, when the engine didn't
refuse to work.
Soon the not unpleasant odor of
cooking was waited up our way.
and shortly Booklaul appeared
with two steaming pots-one of
boiled antbear. the other of boiled
monkey. Aside from the name,
which Is a little startling at first,
I found them very good. Adding
to this cassava bread and baked
plantain, we had a very enjoyable
and typically tropical dinner.
He is the very devil himself.
this tiger with the cattle appe-
tite," remarked Haley, as he lean
ed back in his chair, rolling a Gig
arctic. HE has killed over TWEEN
ty head In the last few months"
he continued; "he knows just as
we'll as we do that he is on dan
gerous ground, and he seems to
possess the craft and cunning Of
the old boy himself! Why, he'll
make two or three kills In a
week, and then, perhaps, he won't
show up for month; or he may
kill tonight, and then he may SHIFT
ten miles tomorrow! Out of q
score of these fellows I've killed,
this one seems to be the most mys-
terious and elusive of them all"
"1e works his game something
like this" Haley went on. About
six or seven miles from here there
is a long strip of jungle running
through the savannah and from
this strip extends several long
arms Of thick woods. which are,
perhaps, from one to two miles
apart. 1t is down these strips this
marauder. lurking under their
cover, waits for the cattle to feed
near enough to single out his VIC
tim. 1t will take two or three days
to hunt these strips of jungle prop
erly. and If old Spots is still UP to
his tricks we are almost sure to
pick him up.'
Haley rose and went to his ham,
mock for the night. For few mo-
ments ] sat in a sort OF dreamy
thought. The voices that l had
grown accustomed to hear rise up
out Of the jungle night after night
were here, for the most part, abb
sent; but they were replaced BY
other sounds.
1t seemed had only been IN my
hammock very short time when !
heard Haley saying, Come on, It's
three O'Clock; we've got to walk
over a mile to catch the horses.
and we want to be hunting before
sun up"
We rode straight away to ths
south, where the faint outline OF q
strip of Jungle showed against the
sky. "HIow does 1t feel to be In tbs
saddle again9' asked big Jack.
Feel? Why. it's got struggling
along through the jungle on foot
beaten forty ways" said !.
"By thunder" broke in Jack. a
wonder what's struck those dogs
Look at 'eh go! And none OF 'em
saying a word. none Of 'em singing
~nd running blue streakr