Year: 1864




as if for the last, sad farewell, and
then to suddenly sink from the world,
over which was suddenly drawn the
pail Of darkness, if not of death. A
minute before and the light of day
played calmly orer the great forest
and thick Jungle entering among the
leaves, kissing the blossoms, and SO
gliding down to the rich, black earth,
but now, having come with the sud
denness almost of the extinguishing
of a lamp, nighI-black, rayless night
was upon the scene, roigning SUI
preme over the mysterious, awful
depths of that uncultivated wild.


Silver upon the hill-tops, silver up
on the tree-tops, a broad stream OF
silver pouring in among the leaves and
branches, and lifting shadow here
and shadow there, as if this black
ness were in so many layers or strata,
that could be raised and removed as
we take one veil from another
What is it Ha L see now 1t is
the moon, the fair queen of night, and
welcome is her coming; for such
black, impenetrable darkness, though
poetically impressive, is little too
fs arfully so, and / hail the new light
with joy, and look back upon the
leafy net work above, and the black
shadows below, with new and more
pleasing sensations.


Gracious heaven what was that p
that awfully wild, growing roar, that
sprang me to my feet and let me fall
back as if 1 were dead body receiv-
ing single galvanic shock, with this
ditierence-that no corpse was ever
half so nervous for the minute follow
ing? was almost forgetting the bus
iness that brought me there but after
roar of tho L~.esJ deo., 4 -.
believe / ceased to remember that /
wanted the skin of that same beast to
carry back to England and present to
fair creature who still thinks the
life endangered for it one of the most
precious in the great round world.


But the tiger? Aye aye!


Well, being notified that lord of
the jungle contemplated paying a visit
to the spring, and taking possession of
any thing eatable, no matter if the
property were mine byprior possession,
l FASTENED to be ready to give his roy
al highness such q reception as l
hoped might cause him to prolong his
stay. Both rifles being within reach,
L ran one of them out with direct
bearing upon the COW, which in the
dim light could see standing up and
staring in the direction she had heard
the sound, and so terribly frightened
that every limb and muscle was for a
time as rigid as she had been carved
in stone.


For perhaps a minute / was sight
ing along the two barrels towards the
cow, the novel excitement of the occa-
sion starting the sweat from every
pore and making my generally steady
hands shake so that doubt | should
have hit tho size of house at ten
rods; but at the end of that time the
tiger had not appeared in sight. /
quietly pulled flask from my pocket
and took an enormous drink of bran
dy. Now you may preach and prac-
tice temperance as much as you like,
but l tell you there are worse evils in
the world than modicum Of brandy,
especially when you are shaking in
dread of tiger.


Well, in a very short time my
nerves became wonderfully settled,
and / felt as though could send a
ball through the heart Of tiger with
as steady hand as ever pulled trig-
ger at deer or any other game and
he still remained out Of sight, though
the poor COW seemed to scent if she
did not see him, and no longer rigid as
at first, trembled and moaned pite-
ously.


Minute succeeded minute, and yet
the tiger did not make his appearance.
What could be the cause? had he
scented man and skunk away in fear ?
and should have to remain on watch
all night, and yet not get shot after
all? Surely l had not bargained for
this.


Minute succeeded minute, till sixty
minutes made the hour--and sixty
more the second hour, and yet no tiger
- nothing. Confouud the thing 1t
was too provoking to be obliged to sit
there, i'll intense expectation, hour af-
ter hour, drinking brandy to keep my
nerves steady, till half stupefed and
half asleep, and finding nothing to
shoot after all / had half mind To
fire at the COW, if only to rouse myself
with an imaginary fight.


Holy saints what was that darling
before my eyes like some monstrous
bull? Harkl Those savage growls,
snarls and means? Look, look No
mistake now! The monster is at his
mark Clear and distinct, in the
white light of the moon, ] can see his
fiery eyes and portions of his dark,
brindled, glossy skin, as with teeth
buried in the neck Of his groaning
victim, he shakes her as terrier
wonld shake a rat.


Now is my time-now is the time
for a shot, if ever-but, confound the
luck! / am shaking again. Why
didn't the fool come when the brandy
was doing its work, and before it had
lost its virtue? But steady, now,
steady; he is not to venture here and
kill my COW with impunity. There,
now have him-head toward me-
breast full-the light clear. One Sec
ond, while / hold my breath Bang !!
bang both barrels in succession.


Heavens what fierce, startling
howls, or rather yells of pain and
rage! He is certainly hit, and, hope,
mortally. Will the smoke ever lift so
that can see what / have done p
How fortunate that l am concealed
and urefecfed Now thep ont xv;fb