Incl-too..- .nouu-uu..--p...-....

HEW--

' .c.co...I-...ongo--c

 



-: w
,9'

 

‘ \3‘:

\

Copyrighted, 1885, by ISIADLK Asn Annm. Entered a: me Post (mire at New York. N. Y.. as Scrum! Class Mn“ Matter. June 13. 1855.

Vol. V. 12.50 Published Weekly by Beadle and Adams, F l’rlvo. N0. 61.

a "9”" No. 98 WILLIAM Sm. NEW YORK. 1"“ Cw“-

THE TIGEIifiiINTERs;  °°E§R§£i§£§fimn

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR.

 

A FRIGHTFUL LOOKING OBJECT WAS THE OLD MUCKNAH AS HE CAME CHARGING
DOWN UPON THEM.

 

 

C"

s The Tiger Hunters.

 

The Tiger Hunters;
The Colorado Boys in Elephant-land. ‘

A Story or Sport and Adventure in
Pursuit of Big Game.

BY JOS. E. BADGER, JR.,

AUTHOR or “m commo BOYS," “ROUND
THE CAMP-FIRE,” “TEE PRAIRIE. RANCH,”
are, are, ETC.

CHAPTER I.
A DUEL BETWEEN GIANTS.

9AM) them’s what you call elephants? Git
out; you can’t fool this chicken! They’re noth-
in but rats, with a bad disease of the nose; or
in bits, lopeared rabbits, and powerful weak,

imens at that 1”

“Pretty fair lot for this oor country,” was
the laughing response. “ ou must remember
that you are not in your wonderful America
now. cousin Burt. Doubtless you have the gen-
uine article in perfection over there, but here—
now that old muckmah, over yonder, we would
call far above the average. ”

“If a man went out hunting rabbits in our
country, and came home with a critter or two
like them, he’d be hung for infanticide, sure!”
grumbled the incorrigible Burt.

“What did you call it, Percy?” asked the
third member of the arty, taller, older and
far more serious than his brother.

“‘Muekmah That is the name the natives
give those fellows without tusks, or rather with
tusks that grow downward, like that bi rascal
over yonder. An elephant with big tus s they
call untar and the female is hatnee.”

“What do they carry thoss saddle—blankets
on their heads for? Or are they buckwheat
flapflacks?” asked Burt.

‘ either,” promptly interjected Lance.
“ Those are their pocket handkei-chiefs, hung
out to dry. They ot wind of your coming,
and have been bitter y weeping in dread of the
awful bouncers they will have to listen to, with-
outtthe power of either trumpng or following
sui .
“And we’ve got to ride them things when we
go after the cats?" persisted Burt, his treekled
nose up-turning even more than nature intend-
ed, his round, rosy face the picture of scorn.

‘ Unless you’d rather stay behind and let us
do the hunting of the tigers, yes.”

“ Oh, 1’11 0,” indiflerently. “If I didn’t,
there’s no tell ng what scrapes on two young
blunderers would tumble into. fiutit I have to
straddle one of them little rants, I’ve got to
hire a couple of likely nlglgers to run alon side
and hold my feet upso won’t knock al my
toe-nails ofl? against the roots and stones—”

“That will do, boy Burt. Bite it of! and
keep the rest until some tima when we feel mel-
one oly and want to die. Just now I’d rathe

 

 

 

hear Percy talk about them elephants.” '

Some of the readers 'whose eyes rest a 11
these lines may have reco nized old acquaint-
ances in the speakers an to such the few ex-
planatory words which follow will hardly be
necessary; but for the benefit of such new au-
ditors as this record of splortmg adventures in
Elephant-land may reac , a brief retrospect
will not come amiss.

Lancelot and Burtis Applebee were brothers,
born in America, though of English descent.
Nearly all of their life had been passed on a
cattle-ranch in Colorado. Their mother died
when they were more children, and their father
followed his wife when Lance was eighteen and
Burt two years younger.

Their only living relatives were an uncle and
a cousin, the latter being about the same age as
Lance, then residing in India, where they car-
ried on an extensive indigo plantation.

By a peculiar arrangement between them-
selves, the stock—man and the planter held their
property in common, as it were, in trust for
their heirs, and by the will of Henry Applebee
the brothers were bound to pass a year in India
studying the business as carried on by their
uncle, and if they could content themselves
with it, the stockJarin was to be disposed of
and the roceeds used to set them u in business
there. an the contrary, if, after a aithful test,
they could not bring themselves to wholly
abandon their native country, a division was to
be made, unless Charles Applebee could be in-
duced to Sell out and return with them, and the
‘brothers were to carry on the stock-farm as be-

ore.

The visit was paid, and as soon as the busiest
art of the manufacturing season was over, the
ndigo-planter, who had strong hopes of in-

ducing the sons of his dead brother to sette
down near him, indulged their epoi'ting'instinct
to the utmost extent aflorded by the “big game
in that district, and promising them still greater
sport after the noble game of the Hill regions.
In pursuance of that promise, the three young-
sters were here, on the frontier of Ne eul, with
all arrangements made for a gran hunt, in
true oriental style. ‘

Kolahala, the veteran shikaree, had been sent
on ahead, with a letter to Bahoo Bikram Jha,
the Z:mindar, or Governor of the district in
which they had decided to hunt.

To show his good will and respect, the Baboo
had come a. day’s journey to meet them, his
idea being to hunt on their way back, rest at
his village, then beat the country beyond and
around, until the sporting desires of his honored
guests were satiated.

It was all nearly as new to Percy as to the
brothers, although this was not his first tiger-
hunt, and as soon as they could slip away from
the rather oppressive hospitality of the fat little
Zemindar, they betook themselves to the corral
in which the e ephants designed for use in the
coming hunt, were confined for the night.

Neither Lance nor Burt had ever seen an Asiv
atic elephant and although their course of read-
ing had been quite egtensive for lads who had
lived their mode of life, they were greatly dis-
Epointed when they came to view their novel

a
c arzers, so much smaller and uglier than their

 

 

 

 

The Tiger Hunters.

 

 

imagination, aided by engravings, had pictured
em.

Percy was quite e ual to the task set him by
Lance, for besides eing a closa observer, he
was an ardent student of natural history.

“ Although some writers dispute the fact,

claiming that a muck’nah, or hines. is a freak of ‘

nature, the absence of tusks being, according to
them, on a par with beardless men, I believe
that they are a species distinct by themselves;
and I’ll tell you my reasons, it you care to
listen." _

“Elephants is elephants, and these is only
lop-cared rabbits!” yawned Burt.

“Hold your hush, boy Burt. or I’ll la you
down and sit on you l” warned Lance.
Perc : don’t mind him.”

“ ok at that old tusker, first. You see he
has a broad, expansive forehead, with a big
bump between his eyes at the root of his
trunk—” .

“Where some thief hit him a belt With a
rock. trying to bu’st open his trunk— Go on: I
didn‘t say nothin’l” and Burt dodged his broth-
er’s flst, with a grin.

“The temple, between the eye_and ear, as
you can see, is marked only by a slight depres-
sion. The eye is large, bright and pleasant-
looking, while the entire face has a kind look.

“'Now look at that old muck’nah and note the
same points. I
very long in proportion to its width, and instead

of a bump between the eyes, there is a hollow ,

like a soup-bowl. Its temple is more like that

of an old. broken-down horse, and it has the ,3
‘ same hollow over the eye.

The trunk is longer
and thicker. Its eyes are small, dull, sleepy-
looking, and its whole countenance is melan-
choly. Both the males and the females have
tusks, but they are short and curve downward,
more like those of a walrus. They grow taller
and heavier than the other speCies. There _are
other peculiarities which one might mention,
but I think these are enough to prove my claim

that the muclmah is of a distinct species, and ,

not a mere freak of nature.”

“You called him melancholy. but I reckon
you’d have come nearer the mark if you had
said colicky,” commented Burt. who had been
watching the animals closely. “He’s either got
thestomach-ache, or else he’s been listening to
whatflyou said, and don’t like your descrip-
tion.

There was some foundation for this remark,

“ con, 1

Its forehead is narrow, its head ‘

lug. female with his trunk, uttering a low,
whistling sound expressive of satisfaction. In
fact, this was the mate of the mucknah, and
his rage was being excited by the audacity of
the allant lothario.

“ t ’em fight!” uttered Burt, boy-like.
“ Bet two to one on the old long-horn; I knowed
itl” he muttered, in a tone of disgust, as sev-
eral of the mahouts entered the inclosure from
the opposite side and Separated the amorous .
couple. “ Just the way with them pesky nig—
gers; no idee at all of fun! Over in our coun-
try, they’d ’a’ made a ring an’ set ’em to oing,
red-bot, but here—:git out with your (id in-
digo country, I say i”

The youngsters turned away to View some
, of the other preparations which Bikram Jba

had _made for their sport and pleasure on the

coming day, and quickly forgot their disap-

pomtment in not being treated to a combat be-

tween elephants, but only a few minutes were
' assed thus, when they were startled by a
, oarse, sharp scream, coming from the corral,
‘ which even those who had never heard the like
5 before could hardly mistake for alight else than
; the angry trumpeting of an elephant.
‘ “.Hoohl" cried K0 ahala, his black eyes glit-
. tering like those of a serpent, his white, shar
[teeth gleaming in a savage grin. “Muck/nag

 

. heap mad now! You see plenty big fight—ha!" ' I ‘

“Whoorayl” yelled Burt, in an ecstasy of:
boyish delight, rushing toward the inclosure.
“A free fight, and this chicken speaks for a
front seat in the dress-circle!”

Active as a cat, Burt scaled the rude bamboo
fence, and pre ared to take in the free “cir-
1 cus” as he won d have expressed it. Nor were

his companions any way backward about imi

tating him in this respect. ‘

“You see what I say?” laughed Kolnhnla.
1 pointing to where the animals were the most
agitated. “ Ole muclmah dar. Ole dimtar
dar. Heap mad, all two both! Fight now,
sure I” '

Kolahala was right once more. The rival
- elephants confronted each other, trumpeting de-

fiantly, threatening each other with swa ing

trunks, only kept from coming to still c oser ,

quarters by the strenuous efforts of their re-

spective mahouts, who were cursing each other

freeing their own shoulders of blame with wild

gestures. ‘
I A still more angry cry burst from the tusker,
’ and swift as thought its trunk shot out, twming

 

 

 

for the mucknah was growing more and more around the mahout, then the luckless fellow was
uneasy, shifting rapidly from one foot to the , hurled far away against the fence of the corral, .7

, other, swaying its massive trunk to and fro, i with :such force that several of the bamboo

the while uttering a peculiar, deep, muttering ‘ canes were splintered before his weight.
sound which can only be expressed by the com- l Quite as rapidly was consummated the re-
binati'on “urmp-urmpl” . l venge of the mucknah, and curiously enou h it
A low laugh came from the lips of Kolahala, took the same direction as that of its rival;
who had approached them unheard, and the Even as the trunk of the tasker was elevated
old shikaree said: i in a prolonged note of mingled triumph and
“Ole duntar talk soft in hatnee ear; dat’s defiance, the_ huge trunk of the mucknah
what owrong dis time. Mucknah hc (‘on’t like grasped the httle mahout, who was turning to
dat. file git heap mad, ’fore long, den dere be flee on _w1tnessing the fate of is rival. and
bi fight—you seep! . ‘flun him with terrible force 1: at the
0 all appearance the veteran had hit upon has of the tusker ,
the correct solution. The dimtar, a tusker of; A horrible, gasping, gurgling scream of mor-
nearly ten feet in hight, and nearly as tall as tal agony we led from the mahout’s lips—a

. the mucknah. was caressing a melancholy look— cry that was echoed back from all those who .

 

 

 

 

4 ' ' _ The Tiger Hunters.

 

witnessed the tragedy, for the poor wretch was
literally impaled upon the sharp tusks of the
duntav '

With a. moaning, muttering cry, the tusker
retreated a few steps, then wrapped its trunk
around the quivering body of the death-stricken
keeper, removing it from the tusks with a care-
ful tenderness almost human.

The red blood gushed forth from the frightful
wounds in a torrent. A gasping groan, a con-
vulsive movement of the limbs, and the mahout
had passed 'to his last account.

The tusker seemed to realize this, and its
moaning cry changed to one of deeper import.
Its trunk and tail were elevated, its eyes seemed
to be filled with fire, as it thought of revenge
for the loss of its keeper. But the cunning old
mucknah had passed through too many desperv
ate combats in its time to idly await an attack
from such a formidably armed antagonist as
this, and with a wild, savage trumpeting, he
charged upon the duntar taking him on the
left quarter thus aVruiding those dangerous tusks.

All this had transpired with such rapidity that
the~human eye could scarcely convey the differ-
ent changes to the brain. .

Startled by the wild uproar, the Zemindar
waddled forth from his marquee, accompanied

- by Colonel Applebee, iiust in time to see one end
of the corral fence fal with a crash as the ele-
phants crowded blindly against it in terror as
the rival giants came together in deadly com-

hat.

The odds seemed heavily against the old
muckmzh, with only hi rudimentary, down-
ward curving tasks to oppose the superb, sixty-
inch weapons of the duntar, but it now proved
itself to be a fast and furious fighter, striking
downward with its whole force, tearing great
gashes in the neck of its antagonist almost be-
fore the tusker could realize that it was at-

tacked.

The fat little Baboo, almost bursting with
mingled rage and anxiety at the prospect of
losing the services of two of his most valued
hunters, danced wildly around, calling on the
mahouts to urge their elephants between the
fighters and separate them before irreparable ’
r damage was done.

That he was not promptly obeyed was through
no fault of the keepers, who strove their utmost
to carry out his instructions, but their charges
seemed almost paralyzed with terror, and only
crowded together as if for mutual protection.

With subtle instinct they had recognized what
had thus far escaped the notice of the excited

pers.

“Hurrah for the old long-horn! Didn’t I tell
ye so?” cried Burt excitedly, for the moment
forgetting the terrible double tragedy which
thrcfi had 'ust witnessed. "

e tus er made a desperate effort, and the
old muoknqh reeled before its charge, stagger-
ing to one side and dropping to its knees, to all
appearance fairly worsted. So the most of the
excited spectators thought—so the tusker him-
self seemed to believe, for its trunk was waved
aloft and it uttered a shrill trumpeting sound,
the note of victory.

But Kolahala was not so readily deceived, and =

 

a shrill laugh parted his lips as be extended his
long. bany finger: '

1..
k].

‘t’geel Ole mucknah no fool — heap fight
e

With a force that no combination of flesh and
blood, bone and muscle could resist, the cunning
old mucknah plunged forward with lowered
head, striking the tusker fairly on the side.

Staggered by the terrible force thus brought
to bear against it, the tusker tried to turn and
face its implacable rival, but the muclmah
wound its trunk around one of the legs furthest
from it, then pressed still harder, toppling the
tusker over upon its side. Without allowing its
rival to regain its footing. the maddened animal
pressed the advantage it had gained to the ut-
most, rearing up and falling again, adding the
whole of its weight to the downward thrust of
its dagger-like tusks, ripping and rending,
trumpeting savagely between every stroke of its
massive trunk, while the doomed tusker beat the
blood-stained ground with its trunk, uttering a
pitiful cr , as though pleading for mercy.

d “ ’Tagi t fairP-Tfiilulil‘ned  it isl”bc1c‘1ied gfirt, lin-
ignan . imo ,some 0 1 cu
brute’ll gill him I” y g y

In his sympathy for his defeated favorite,
Burt would have leaped into the corral, had not
the sinewy hand of Kolahala restrained him
from committing that folly.

t “ l$o good—ole mucknah he must; he kill you,
00!

“But he mustn’t I” growled Burt, mistaking
the meaning of the shikaree. “ Burn the p'izen
critter. but he has I”

The fierce, swift thrusts of the mucknah had
accomplished their work. With one desperate
effort, the tusker strove to arise, then fell back
before another savage stroke, giving a feeble

sound, its massive lim bs quivering for a moment ,

then stretching out in death.

Still the muclmah continued its bloody work,
plunging its daggers into the insensate carcass,
thras in it with its trunk, grunting, rumbling.
trumpet ng with malignant rage an fury, until
satisfied that the tusker was dead, when it drew
back, dripping with the blood of its rival, as
well as that which flowed from its own- numer-
ous wounds. .

“ If the old brute belonged to rue/I’d. send a
bullet through its brain! ’ muttered Burt, dis~
gustsdly.

“ That’s what it will have to come to, if Kpla-
hala is right,” said Percy, a little anxiously.

“ Right, sure 1” positively returned the old
shikaree. “ Ole mucknah must, sahibs see dat,
heap soon.”

“ Must what?” asked Lance.

“ Must' that means mad, crazy. By heavens!
he is ma 1” ,

With a fierce, wild scream, the muck-nah
wheeled and charged toward the other elephants.
who fled at top speed.

 

CHAPTER II."
THE MAD MUCKNAH.

IN vain the yelling, vociferat-ing mahouts ap-
plied their hooks, in vain they belabored their

‘ charges until it seemed as though they would

batter through the thick skulls, now cursing and

| revilin , now pleading and arguing with the ter-

rified e ephants, threatening them with eternal
disgrace n the eyes of their mighty lord, Bikram

 

 

 

4"

 

" «LA;  

  

  
 

The Tiger Hunters. 5

 

Jha, but even that usually potent name was!
powerless now, while the huge old muclmah, in ,
a thorough state of must, was bellowing forth
its mad fury so close at their heels.

Crashing down the splintered bamboos,
tearing out one whole side of the corral, they
shuffled away at top speed, shrilly trumpeting
their alarm.

Madder than ever seemed the blood-covered
brute as he beheld his intended victims in full
flight, and with a. resounding roar, be pressed
on in frantic chase.

“Hurray!” cried Burt, in an ecstasy of ex-
citement. “Let’s saddle up an’ see the rest 0’
the circus! Heap big lnjun, that old muck'nahl
0n the war- path bigger’n a. wolf l"

A strong band fell upon his shoulder, and as
the lad strove to shake it off, he heard a voice
sa mg:

‘ Cool and easy, my boy! This is not exactly
our game.”

The speaker was Colonel Apnlebee, probably
the only living voice to whichBurt would have

aid the slightest attention, just then, so intense-

y was he wrought up by the strange and ter-
rible scenes which he had just witneSsed.

“ But I only meant to ride after and look at
the fun,” hastily explained the youngster ap-
peelingly.

“ That fun will be death to more than one, un-
less the mad rogue fails to catch up,” seriously
replied the lanter retaining his grip. “ No,
no, my dear y. We’ll keep our fingers out of
the pie as long as we can; besides, it’s too late,
now,” he added, as the wild sounds died away in
the'jungle which had swallowed up both pursued
and ursuer.

Re easing Burt, Colonel Applehee turned to
where Bikram Jha. lay, panting, puffing, gasp-
ing for breath, his stumpy little legs having
given way beneath the Weight of his body. His
frantic shouting, cursing and gesticulating had
completely exhausted his bodly] powers, and
over ooked for the time beingby is demoralized
rettfiilners, the fat little Baboo was in a sad
pic e.

Assisting him to regain his feet, the planter
quickly summoned several of the natives and
had them carr their lord and master back to
the marquee, w ere a judicious application of
strong waters soon put the Governor in a fair
way of recove —not, if the truth must be told,
wholly to the elight of his trembling vassnls,
who knew that somebody or something must
suffer for what had recent] occurred.

Percy, thoughtful and kind-hearted, as soon
as the muclmah cleared the corral, bade Kola-
hala follow him, and entering, bent over the
blood-stained forms of the rival mahouts.

After what he had seen, the young planter
dared not hope to find either of them alive,
and he quickly realized that they were beyond
all earthly aid. Though less terribly mangled
than the mahout who had been so strangely im-
paled, the man flung against the corral fence
was none the less dead. Searcer a bone in his
body had escaped being fractured, and death
must have been instantaneous.

“It was fun alive for us but death to them,”
muttered Burt, with grave face and subdued
air. as he rejoined his mates. “I didn’t think

 

of that at the time. and I am sorry now that I
cheered ’em on. But who could ’a’ helped it,
seeing them mountains on four legs a-bucking
at; each other? Why, it ’ust su-t me all on fire!”

No one blnmcd him. oth Peri?y and Lance
had felt the same' and as for olahala, the
death of two, or oi a score, such men as these
mattered little to him. It was their fate. It
was so written in the book of life, and a man
would be a fool to regret what could not be
mended. .

Something of this the grim old shikaree was
expressing, when Percy checked him with a
frown and impatient gesture.

“Silence! Go bring some of those coolies
here to attend to these 001‘ fellows.”

With a toss of his end, Kolahala stalked
away in dignified fashion to carry out his in-
structions, and returning in the course of a few
moments with the still trembling coolies whom
he had pressed into the service, stood proudly
aloof while Percy ave them his instructions,
then slowly followel the young sahibs as they
moved toward the camp.

“How do you reckon it’ll end, anyhow?”
asked Burt, unable to forget the doings of, the
mad elephant, now that the immediate presence
of death no longer hold him under the chilling
thrall. “Land 0’ liberty! if the p’izen old crit-
ter shouldn’t git over it at all, an’ we‘d hare to,
turn out and hunt him down; wouldn’t that be
fun? Bet your boots 1”

Percy was about to reply, when Kolahala
caught him by the arm with a grip that seemed
as though it would crush the bone, and as the
young planter turned his head in hot remon-

strance, the words were frozen upon his lips by , I

the wild light which filled the black eyes of the
old shikaree.

His head was slightly inclined, his lips parted
until the white, sharp teeth showed themselves,

and every nerve and muscle seemed strung to “

its utmost tension.

“Ila! he comes 1” hissed between his tightly
clinched teeth. “ He has tasted blood; the soul
of Ravana has entered into his body, and he
comes—comes to slay, to rend and crush, to
tear and grind—comes like the tornado, and
more terrible than the monsoon— Ha I”

Kolahala spoke in his own tongue, so swiftly,
so hissingly that the slight ac uaintance which
the brothers had formed with indr ostanee was
insufficient for them to follow him or divine his
meaning.

They stared at him in open-e ed amazement,
as though fearing that the ma spell had fallen
upon him also, and they were more than ever
assured of this when the shikaree made a sues

cession of mighty leaps which carried him to the ' '

foot of a. fig-tree hard by, up which he scram-
bled with the activity of a cat.

" What under the sun has hit him?” ex-
claimed Burt. in astonishment. “Gone may,
or turned monkey, ain’t he?”

“ He says—shark!” and Percy turned abruptly
towa‘rd the Jungle as a. startling sound rent the
air. l3y Heavens, it is so! The mad miwlmah
is coming back here I"

“ Run, sahibs, run I” cried Kolahala, from his
perch in the tree-top. “ Climb tree-hide—ole
muc he kill, sure!” _ .'

   
   
 
  
  
    
   
    
 
    
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
    
  
   
  
   
    
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
      
     
     
         
       
         
       
   
   
       
     
     
     
       
       
      

 

o i The Tiger Hunters.

 

None in the encampment could longer doubt
the truth.

Trumpeting shrilly, crashing his way through
the dense jungle as though too mad or too blind
to follow a path, the mad elephant was return-
ing, finding himself too much hurt to catch up
with any of the fleeing train, yet with the lust
for blood so filling his inflamed brain that all

' else was forgotten.

From his place beside the ovorcome Baboo,
Colonel Applebee heard those ominous sounds,
and knowing right well what they portended,
be rushed forth from the tent, loudly shouting
the names of his son and nephews.

Startled and confused, for the moment, the

oungsters hesitated, and then the hu e beast
gurst through the jungle, half-way etween
thmn and the colonel. .

The horses, many of which were tethered
hard by, snorted with terror as the huge animal
trumpeted anew, rearing hack and trying to
break their fastenings, by their very struggles
for safety drawing upon them the unreasouing
wrath of the mighty creature.

With massive trunk swaying in the air above
its scarred and blood-dripping head, the muck»
nah charged upon them, hocking the wretched

, creatures right and left, then falling on its
-knees and crushing the life out of one luckiess

pony.

As Bikram J ha behold the devastation which
the mad elephant was creating among his pro-
perty, he recovored his power of speech, and
called upon his slaves to slay the demon before

' all of the horses were destroyed.

As well appeal to the old mucknah himself!
The natives, with scarcely an exception were
too thoroughly demoralized to obey, even it
their unreasoning terror allowed them to hear
and comprehend, and if their superiors had
not been present, the mucknah might have
wreaked his vengeance to the utmost.

Colonel Applebee rushed back into the tent,
returning With his rifle, but at that moment he
was met by Burt and his mates, their faces
aglo w, their eyes flashing.

“ Don’t shoot, uncle! cried Burt, eagerly
and at the same time coaxinglv. “Don't
shgotl Let us have a chancel You’ve killed
elephants, but we never have—never will, if
you take this chance away from us!"

“Make haste, thenl”he cried, as the eager
lads plunged into the tent, almost upsetting the
panting aboo in their excitement.

In a moment more they came forth, armed
with their favorite rifles, into which they were
slipping heavily charged express cartridges.
The colonel checked them as they were on the
point of rushing toward their mighty game,

aymg:

- “ Cool and ens , my lads! Steady your
nerves, or you wil only waste your‘ powder.
'lhe eye or the temple is your mark, and re-
member that .If you miss, it may be the last
trigger you will pull in this world!"

Like magic the excitement passed away, and
the brothers stood as cool and calm as though

 , 'they had passed a lifetime in hunting elephants.
u I The eyes of the planter gleamed as he watched
, them closely. The were true scions of the
9041 old stock, on the name would neverbe
 ,‘bythem. ,

1

A sharp Cry brought Kolabala down from his
‘ porch in the fig-tree, and a single word was
enough to give him his cue.

Grinning until every tooth showed, he glided
away toward the elephant, while the colonel
said to Burt and Lance:

“You two shall have the first shot, but there
will only be time for one. The moment you

fire, leap aside and break for cover. Percy and
I will do the rest.”

“ If one bullet can kill such a. mountain, you
won’t have any need of them guns," Burt, con-
fidently declared.

The colonel made no reply, but hurriedly in-
dicated the places the were to occupy, some
twenty feet apart, an a few yards in advance
of where he and Percy stood.

Kolahala was already performing his share of
the work. Snatching o the cloth which was
wound loosel around his head, he glided along-
side the muc ah, then darted ahead and utter-
ing a shrill cry as he flapped the rag across the
eyes of the infuriated animal.

N 0 further challenge was necessary. Abandon-
ing the carcass of the pony, the mad elephant re-
gained its feet,and With a savage bellow, start-
ed in pursuit of the light-footed shikaree, who
made a short circle and then dashed straight
back to where the young Americans were stand-
ing, assing between them, then glancing back
over is shoulder as he ran, eager to witness how
they would hear the test.

A frightful looking object was the old murk-
nah as he came charging down upon them, his
front covered with b ood, his eyes glowing like
living coals, his trunk upraised and emitting
a. shrill. frenzied trumpeting; but not an inch
did the Colorado boys flinch.

The rifles leaped to their shoulders, and for an
instant followed the movements of the elephant,
then Lance cried out: '

“Ready, Burt! Let him have it—nowl”

Making but one report, the two rifles ex-
ploded when the infuriated creature was not
more than twenty feet away from the boy
marksman,its massive trunk already stretching
out to sweep them into eternity, and a gasping
breath passed the white lips of the planteras
he saw that the work was done, and done well.

The brave lads leaped swiftly aside, according
to instructions, but it was not to flee further.
They knew that their aim had been true—that
the mad elephant would do no more damage.

On receiving the shots, the old muclcnah
stopped as abruptly as though it had run against
a. stone well. Its massive trunk swayed blindly
about, its legs were spread apart. and a husky,
moaning sound came from its throat. Only for
a brief space; then it plunged heavily forward,
falling upon its head with a jar that fairly shook
ghedearth, then rolled over on its side, stone-

ea .

As the huge creature came char
toward the tent, with only the two oys to bar
its way, Bikram J ha. uttered a gasping yell of
horror and waddling forth from the frail cov-
ering,'bea.t as rapid a retreat as lay in the wer
of such a roll 0 fat, even when inspir with
fear. But the wild yells which burst from his

 

g down '

coolies asthe elephant fell dead, reamed him, , '
. and he returned to where the boys were inspect-

 

The Tiger Hunters. 7

.—

 

ing and admiring the huge proportions of their
unexpected game.

In his quaint, broken English. be thanked and
congratulated them on the wonderful skill and
coolness which they had exhibited. Only for
them, the mad devil would have destroyed all
the horses, have laid waste the entire encamp-
ment; and they so small, so young—it was mar.
velous! _

Doubtless it was all meant as a compliment,
but Burt did not take it so, and all his native
impudence arose in him.

‘ That’s nothing,” he snid, looking
beast with languid indifference. ‘You should
see the elephants we have in my country—big
as ten of this, and nasty when they git mad;
now you are talking!”

“ You have elephants dere—in ’Merica?”
asked the Governor, wonderingly. “Big ones,
like dis! You shoot ’em 1” .

“Elephants till you can’t rest!” unblushingly
affirmed Burt. “ And big? Well, I don’t want
to stretch the truth, but over in my country, a
critter of this size wouldn’t be let run alone, for
fear it would get lost or hurt, or something.
They ain’t weaned ye ,that size. And shoot?
Well, I should remark! Why, we have to shoot
a road through ’em whenever we want to go
aanheres, they’re so thick!”

lmost choking with his efforts to keep a
sober face, Colonel Applebee drew the aston-
 Baboo aside, while Percy said reproach-
u y:

“ Why cousin Burt, I’m ashamed of you!
And” he helieved every word that you said,

“ ’Course he did, an’ so I meant he should,"
was the unabashed response. “Wasn’t he try-
ing to make us out perfect greenies, and throw-
ing out hints that we didn’t have no such things
in our country? I tell you what—I won’t stand

that from no yaller critter like him! I’m going '

to hold up for good old America, even if I have
to lie about it—so there I”

“And I’m sadl afraid that you came pretty
near doing so, th s time,” laughed Percy, giving
up the position of monitor as a rofltless task.

The news that the mad elep ant was killed,
spread with wonderful Trickness, and shortly
after the fugitive anima s began to be brou ht
back, and the camp to settle into somethingl ke
its former quietude.

It was now nearly 'dark, but the boys had
been too thoroughly stirred upto think of quiet-
ing down all at once, and they once more in-
spected the elephants.

One tusker, smaller than some of the others

' a remarkably intelligent eye and

atthe dead ‘

nose that youngster dis layed while waiting the

, char e of the mad elep ant.

! “ hat’s 'ust what I want,” declared Burt, and
turning as e heard footsteps, 'he beheld the Ba-
boo, accompanied by the planterydrawing near.
“ I’ll ask him now, to make sure.

} He was as good as his word, and the consent

‘ of the Governor was aspromptl given. Indeed,

‘ at that moment Burt could bar ly have asked a
favor which Bikram J he would not have grant-

, ed, so deeply had the Baboo been impressed

l with the marvels which Burt had set forth con-

 

? cerning America. ‘

But the colonel was not near as well pleased,
though he said nothing before the Zemiudar,
and when the four were alone together, making
their preparations to retire, he spoke out:

B “ I’i’n sorry that you picked out that elephant,

ur .

“Why so! He’s the best-looking one in the
ghlptle lot, and Kolahala says that lie is a big

g ,er—

“ That’s the very reason,” quickly interposed
the planter. “ The very worst mount a man
can have when tiger-hunting is one of these
fighting tuskers.”

“ That sounds queer 1” said Burt. “Would
you rather have a critter that would run away
gt tli’e first sight of a cat? That ain’t my idea oi

un

“I’ve seen more of tiger-hunting than you.
my boy,” was the grave response. “ Mind,
don’t ask you to give up your choice. since you
have asked and obtained permission to ride that
particular elephant, but I wish to warn you
what you may expect of a fighting elephant. 'j

“ If a tiger s cornered, or wounded, the fight-
ln d'u‘ntar is almost certain to charge in, and
w en it does, it will try to drop on the tiger
with its knees. Look out that you don’t tumble
overboard into the tiger’s teeth! Or. if you es-
cape that, you may break your neck.”

‘ I’d rnt er run the risk 0’ that than to hem
away with, to lose all the fun.” replied Burt.

The colonel said no more, and soon all were
asleep. »

CHAPTER III.
BURT AND ms FIGHTING 'msm

BRIGHT and early the ardent young sportsmen
were afoot in the morning, longing for the tri- ,
um be which that day must surely bring them,
an as the minutes passed on without any signs
of life coming from the marquee where slept he
Baboo, Burt grew impaiient.

“.We don't want to make no fizzle of it today,
Lance. It won’t do no hurt to onload our pops
and put in fresh shells. Reckon we’d best 0

 

 

but ownm
well-she head, loaf, sharp tusks, and innum-
erable scars covarlng ts front, especially struck 1

the~fsnc of Burt.

“ Thu ’3 the critter for my money I” be de- 

clared, with the air of a connoisseur. “No
funk about him, I bet] Them old scratches tell
the tale. He won’t turn tail on no tiger, even if
he did run from that old muck—bucket. I’m
going to ask the boss if I can’t have him to ride V
tomorrow." - 1
“ He big fighter,” grinned Kolahala, who
stuck still more closely to Burt. smce the cool-

’round to the other side, so’s not to disturb
boss in his morning nap.” I

There was a twinkle in Burt’s blue eyes that
spoke far plainer than his tor gue, and, nothing
loth, Lance and Percy bore him compan tothe
rear of the marquee, where they nngegthem-
selves in line, and with a revolver in each han
emptied their weapons as swiftly as they coul
work hammer and trigger, chuckling in their
sleeves as they heard a snorting cry of terror
come from the interior of the ten . for they ;
knew that their ruse had done its work. _

 

 

.. .‘l

8 The Tiger Hunters.

 

But they were sober enough as the head of the
fat Baboo was thrust cautiously around the
corner, and his husky voice demanded the cause
of the alarm.-

“Just getting up an appetite for grub,” cool-

ly responded Burt. “ In our country we can’t
eat unless we take a good smell of powder first.
Awful sorry if we disturbed you--’

Whatever his other failings might be, Bikram
Jha was no fool, and an oleaginous. smile stole
over his pudgy countenance while his little ig-
like e es twinkled as he nodded rapidly, t on
with rew to complete his toilet.

Burt’s stratagem was completely successful,
for the Baboo took the hint, and little time was
lost over the morning meal. While their hot
ters were eating and drinking, the mahouts
were preparing their charges for the day’s work
and the heaters gettin ready to do their share.

At the re nest of Bi ram J ha, Colonel Apple-
bee accepte the osition of honor and responsi-
bility—captaino the hunt. Until he abdicated,
or was dethroned, his will was law. He decided
on the direction the hunt should take; be direct-
ed the course of the heaters, and gave the how-
dah-bearing elephants their stations in the line.

In honor of his ‘guests Bikram J he had turned
out his entire stu of elephants, thirty all told,
one-third of whom were howdah-bearers, the
remainder bein pad-elephants, whose duty it
was to carry al the camp equipage and the

,‘ game which might be slain during the hunt. in
addition they performed an important art in
the hunt. lengthening the line, and ma mg it
more dilficult for the tiger to escape by a cun-
nin flank movement.

olonel Applebee was too ardent a sportsman
himself tounnecessarily waste any time, and
having long ere this given his nephews their in-
structio 5 how to act, and what the would be
expected to do, he soon had the e ephants in
line, with the two score of heaters dashing
ahead to play their part:

' It was a magnificent sight thus presented, and
the blood of the youngsters flowed swiftly and
their ulses beat igh as they drank it all in. .

Eigfitand-twenty elephants, huge, majestic
looking creatures, ranged in an even line,
movin slowly and steadilriirr1 onward through
the th ck— owing jun le. the center rode
the capta n of the bun . On the extreme right
hand was Burt, on the left was Lance, these

bein the positions next in importance. Mid-

wa fiietween were Percy and the Baboo. TWO
of he howdah-elephants, in charge of Kolahala
and another shikaree on whom degendence
could be placed, were sent ahead as vi ettes, to
see that no cunning tiger stole away unseen.

Three others bore howdahs, but were unoccu~
ed. On each massive neck sat a mahout, keep-

ng their huge charges in perfect line, all look-
ing to the captain for directions. Above th

center howdah hung a blue flag which meant
that nothing save tigers were to be shot at for
the present, no matter what other game was

a run .
‘pAhegad of this ponderous line were the heaters,
yelling, screeching, making all the noise they
' could, almost wild with excitement, for none
‘ among them knew at what moment he might

"  . - he borneto the earth and death by the savage

 

i

l

charge of a tiger whom they had aroused to
actiVity. The louder and more outlandish noises
they could make, the greater their chance of
safety, and each one acted on this unwritten
proverb.

_For an hour or more, during which several
miles were passed over, the beating was with-
out result, though an abundance of smaller
figme was put up. and the Colorado boys were

ginningtochafe under the severe strain to
which their nerves were sub ected without any
compensation, when the wil uJiroar among the
heaters suddenly increased, an several of them
were seen returning in headlong flight, their
backward looks causing more than one awk-
ward stumble and fall, while the excited cry of
“ Bagh! Bagh!” went up from the front.

“ Steady along the line!” thundered Colonel
Applebee. “ Eyes open, Burt and Lance!
Don’t let the rascal steal past you without a
shot! Cool and steady!”

As alread stated, Burt was stationed at the
extreme en of the line, on the right hand. The
luck which had become almost proverbial gave
him the first positive indication that the game
was afoot, trying to outflank the line of ele-

phants.

Directly ahead of his tusker, 'his keen eyes
noticed the tall grass wavin gently as some
creature glided through it. at a sound could
he hear. Only that gentle swaying of the grass,
with a wavering. si e-to-side motion, but that
was sufficient, and a loud cry escaped his lips as
he aimed low and pulled the trigger.

Instantly all motion of the grass ceased. For
one instant Burt stared atthe spot, his heart in
his throat, then he dropped his rifle into the
howdah beside him, uttering a shrill war-whoop
of exultation as his feet beat a jig of Egy.

“Hurray! that’s the way to do it! illed too
dead to skin. Hurray for old America 1”

A warning cry came from the lips of the col-
onel, as he bade his mahout hasten to the spot,
but neither Burt nor his fighting tusker heard
or heeded it. The scarred veteran scented its
natural enemy in front, and knowing from long
experience w at a rifle-shot meant, especially
when followed by an exultant yell such as broke
from the lips of its excited rider it gavea shrill
or and charged blindly forw .

oor Burt! His joyful delusion was short-
livod. Out from the tan led rass where it
had crouched down when t e r' 9 ball whistled
above its back leaped the tiger, shooting
through the air like a striped meteor, and ali ht-
in fair) on the head of the trum ting tus er,
sin ng its claws deep through 5 in and flesh,
while an angry roar came t rough its widely
opened jaws as it struggled to reach the shrink-
infimahout just be on . ‘

or one instant urt seemed alyned. This
furious onset was so diflerent rom what he ex-
pected. He had been so positive that his ran-
dom bullet had killed the tiger, so sure that his
first laurels as a hunter was fairly gained, that
this swift unmasking came wholly unexpected.
For one moment, but no longer.

Before another weapon could be broughtto
bear, before the planter or any of the rest could

sin a 'tion from whence a shot could be ,
red wi hout too great danger of hittinz mahout '

/.._‘V /

 

 

 

;.
E
s

 

.ing of flight. A shrill

r

The Tiger Hunters. ' 

or occupant of the howdah, Burt regained his
wonted nerve, and thrustin another shell into
place, he leaned forward an thrusting the muz-
Elre 3f his rifle almost into the wide-open jaws,

e .

A_t the same instant the trunk of the duntar
twmed around the body of the tiger, and tear-
ing it from its hold, flung it to the ground.
Then, with a. wild, mad scream of min led rage
and pain, the tusker doubled up its ront legs
and pitched upon the writhing beast with its
whole weight.

50 sudden was this movement that Burt, de-
spite the warning given him by the planter. was
taken unawares, and flung headlong out of the
howdah, falling upon the ground in a confused
tangle of legs and arms, for the mahout bore
him close company.

“Obi Pick him up, or that demon will kill
him, tool" cried Colonel Applebee, almost be-
side himself with anxiety, lest the lad come to
serious harm.

Cat-like, though he could hardly have told
how, Burt regained his feet, and expecting with
each moment to feel those terrible claws and
tearing teeth, he struck out blindly, only think-
yell burst from his lips
as a serpent-like band fastened itself around
his waist, and he felt himself raised clear of the
ground. At that moment he saw before him
the form of the wretched mahout with wildly
convulsed legs and arms as be struggled vainly
in the death-gras of the old mucknah, and he
believed that a s milar fate had overtaken him.
But then he was set-down on the head of an ele-
phant, and felt the strong arms of the planter

.drawing him into the howdah.

“ Thank HeaVen you are alive and uncrippled
my boyl” said the planter, his voice husky and
uncertain.

That voice drove away the bewildering mists,
and Burt was once more himself.

“Did on see?” he eagerly demanded. “Was-
n’t it s ck? Only two shells emptied, and a
couple of big tom-oats to show for it! Hurray
for our side—burrs for old Americal”

Despite the terrib e anxiet which be had felt,
Colonel Applebee could not eep from bursting
into a hearty laugh at the comical enthusiasm
displayed by his nephew. No thought of the
danger he had so recently incurred, no thou ht
of his narrow escape from broken bones in t at
awkward tumble—on! the genuine glee of a
boy 37h? feels that be as done something to be

rou o .
p “ Hurray, boys!” and the excited youngster
turned to greet Percy and Lance as hey came
up. “ Free show and not a cent to pay! Three
shots, and three cats to show for the powderl
Reckon you’ll have to leave me at home if you
ever expect to get a skin of your own kiilingl”

“ Three 1” echoed the planter. “ You are sure
there was more than one tiger in there!”

“ Sure!” echoed Burt, in turn while his face
glowed indi nantly. “ ’Oourse ’m sure! Did-
n’t I knock t e first one over, too dead to kick?
An’ didn’t the other one jum up, lon as a
{ariat and big as the side of a bi ll An’ idn’t I
Jest more than upset his applecarti Well, I
should remark I” _ .

Still doubtful. though with hlfl first belief

 

somewhat shaken by the positiveness shown by
Burt, the planter bade his mahout rescue the ‘
carcass of the tiger from the fighting tusker, be-
fore the skin wasruined comp etely.

There was no little danger of this, for the
duntar seemed nearly as mad as the old muck-
nah, now kneeling with its whole weight upon
the crushed carcass, now standing erect and
tossing the body backward and forward with
its feet.

But the mahout knew his business thoroughly,
and urged his ele hant forward at a swingin ,
trot, With lowere head, striking the tusker fufi
in the side and almost toppling t over. Before
the dumtar could recovsr from this unexpected
shock, the other stood over the carcass, and the
mahout of the tusker scrambled. Into his seat,
Elying his hook vigorously, quickly bringing

im under subjection once more.

One of the pad—elephants was brought for-
ward, but before the game was slung into place
Colonel Applebee caused the surrounding grass
to be thoroughly beaten, in search of Burt’s
first tiger. 1n vain. No traces of it could be '
found, thou h Burt himself insisted on dis-
mounting an leading the search. He was 011‘);
convinced of his error when the spot where
bullet had struck was shown him, shivering a
tough knot to atoms.

“You shoot over ole bagh,” laughed the
Baboo. “Dat always do way when shoot at
grass. Me do it too, some time I”

But Burt shook his head stubbornly. ,

“No, air! You can’t stun that down this
chicken! Didn’t I see the stripes? Didn’t I
cover them plum’ center! Didn’t I see the hide
bu’st wide open when the bullet struck it! Bet
your old boots I jest did] No, air! No missin
mine—not any I That shell jest blowed the old
cat all to thunder—didn’t leave hide nor hair
of him i”

The little pig—eyes of the Governor opened to '
their widest extent, but the sturdy ranchero did
not flinch.

“Fact! Done it more’n once over in my
country. Terrible hard shooting gun. Some \
da 1’] show ‘you what it can do!
glowly sha ing his head, the Baboo turned
away to where Colonel Apfilebee was on the

ound, straightening out t e carcass _of the
grger, before taking its dimensions, while Burt
wmked wickedly at his youthful mates, mutter-

in :

E They ain’t no such feller as him going to get
ahead of me, while I’ve got a tongue in my
head. But he’ll kee on until he gets me to ly-
ing, if he don’t min —-1 know it!” V

“Judging from that look and shake of the
head, as he turned away, he begins to an t
that you have already drawn dangerously ose
to the line which divides the truth from a lie,”
laughed Per softly. . »

_° on’t me e a diff o’ bitterancel I won’t let
hm: see that a man from old America can make
a mistake.”

It was really ludicrous to see how the Dance  

sillled away from the spot as the boys advanced, ‘
his pig-eyes riveted upon the face of the young 1 ' '
ranchero, With a wondering, doubting starq
which sent both Percy and Lance into a couch
axon 0! Silent laughter. -

 

 

 

..., -.4.r..,. .

 
 

10 ' The Tiger Hunters.

 

"Not so hadl"'exclaimed the planter as the
lads cameu ,rising from where he had been
taking the imensions of the tiger. “Next to
the lar est one I ever saw. Seven feet seven
inches om tip of nose to root of tail- tail three
feet two inches; length over all, fol owing the
curves, ten feet nine. Fifteen inches ’round the
root of his tail: ’round the chest, four feet five;
head fourteen inches long, and thirty-four inches
in circumference. Burt, let me congratulate
you—many a tiger—hunter who has followed
the business for more years than have passed
over our head, cannot boast of as large a kill
as this one of yours.”

One of his rare confidential fits overtook Burt,
and with a half-sheepish grin, he whispered, too
low for the ears of the Baboo to catch:

“Do you know, uncle Charles, the pesky
critter don’t look m‘gh as big as he did when I
first saw him shoot up out of the long grass and
come for real In m1}: eyes then, he was a mile
long and bigger’n t e side of a hill—he was,
for a fact I”

Colonel Applebee laughed softly as he mo- ,

tinned the attendants to place the carcass on
one of the pad-elephants, then his hand was
placed caressin ly upon the shoulder of the lad,
who so strong y resembled the dead brother
whom he would never cease to mourn, even
while his place was rapidly being filled by this,
his son.

“You see now, my lad, one reason why I
warned you against your choice of an ele-

hant

“ He took me by surprise, or I wouldn’t have
tumbled out.”

“Just so. And such surprises are always
happening. But the tumble wasn’t the worst
danger you escaped, by far. If the tiger had
only been wounded, he would have had you be-
fore any of us could have interposed.”

“ But he was dead," persisted the literal lad.

“So you thought he was killed when you
fired at him the first time—and of that I have
something more to say. But just now—there
was still another peril, no less great, with which
you were threatened. You saw how the old
duntar fell on his knees with the carcass of the
tiger under him? Well, that is part of the
training which makes the fighting elephant so
dangerous, not only.to the game he tackles, but
to whoever rides bun. He chanced to be too
busy with the tiger Just then, or when you fell
over its head the chances are even that he would
havetrampled you just the same. It has been
done more than once, and if I had my way,

I there wouldn’t be a single charging elephant lett

in the land of the living.”

‘ The colonel spoke so earnestly that .Burt was
moved, far more than any of his friends had
ever seen him before, but there was still a touch
of the old obstinacy in his voice as he made re.

1 :
p{I’ll not forget your words, in a hurry,
uncle, but now—I’d rather give up the hunt and
turn back to camp afoot, than to change my
elephant. They’d think I was scared out—and 1
they sha’n’t have a chance to crow over dear
old America through my putting up the white

 

feather. '
James and Percy could not help laughing, but I

the planter rebuked them with a. silent glance,
then added, more lightly: ‘

“You shall have your own way, my boy,
only don’t forget what I have said. One thing
more: Never waste a. shot on the moving grass.
Blkram Jha was right when he said that you
will almost invariably overshoot your game,
when guided alone by such a sign. Then, too,

on are not always sure of what you are try-

ing to kill. You can generally tell, by the dif-
ferent motion communicated to the grass, What
is afoot, but not always.
_ “A tiger is a big animal, but when he is try-
ing to steal away from a line of heaters, he
slips through the jungle with very little mo-
tion to betray him. That little will be a gentle
Sidelong swaying of the grass, without the least
sound. A pig plunges strai ht ahead, bending
the grass before it, while a r inoceros or buffalo
crashes everything before it.

. “ Keep your eye on the motion, never lose
sight of it, but press on and hold your fire un-
til you can distinctly see the stripes—then plant
your lead where it will do the most good. One
thing more—”

At that moment the elephant which bore
Kolahala came in sight at full speed, the shika-
ree yelling:

“ Bagh, sahibs—bagh. Quick, you lose uml"

Instantly all was excitement. as the hunters
rushed to regain their seats in the howdahs.

CHAPTER IV.
AN_0LD_VIXEN AND HER CUBS.

LITTLE time is lost in scrambling back into
the howdahs, and in obedience to the sharply
uttered orders of the captain of the hunt, the
long line of ponderous heaters is swung around
as on a pivot, and then sent crashing along
through the matted grass and thick jungle,
guided by the excited shikaree.

0n throu h the jungle and up a slight rise in
the lay of t a ground, then a simultaneous cry
escaped the lips of the hunters, for before them
was a sight not often seen in these latter days.

For a few hundred yards further stretched
the dense jungle then came a narrow strip of
bare, sandy eart . Warned by Kolahala that
game was afoot, the other vedette had urged
his mount to this open ground, to keep the
tiger from stealing away before the sahibs
could come up. But now, just as the line of
elephants rose the little hill, three tigers
broke cover with angry cries, charging straight
at the solitary elephant with enormous bounds.

With a shrill par-rut, par-rut of terror, the
elephant wheeled and took to flight. For a
short distance it was followed; then the tigers
paused, cast a sullen glance back at the hunt-
ing-line, after which they trotted across the
open and once more disappeared amidst the
dense jungle-grass.

Truly, it was a glorious sight while it lasted,
and the boys were fairly beside themselves With
excited anticipation as the begged and stormed
at their mahouts. The Ba 0, too seemed elec-
trified, and clinging to, the front of his howdah;
he uttered a peculiar cry.

f‘giook out, boys—hold fast!” the planter
crie .

As though by magic there sprung out from

 

 

 

 

is.

 

A frames. ,.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tiger Hunters. V 11

 

 

tne trampled Jungle numerous dark, glancing

gures— natives. each one bearing a long-
handled bamboo spear, the keen points of which
were repeatedly thrust into the rumps of the
elephants.

And then ensued the wildest kind of a steeple-
chase. The ponderous creatures. beaten before
and stabbed behind, were urged to the top of
their speed. Straight ahead they plunged, cov-
ering the ground far more rapidly than any
one could have deemed ossiblc, but rocking
from side to side like an i l-ballasted bark in a
gale. Timely that warning of the planter.
Desperately the lads clung to the sides fo the
tossing howdah, bracing their feet as best they
could under the circumstances and with every
muscle tenser strained. On crashed the ele-
phants, a dense cloud of dust arising before
them. Shrilly yelled the mahouts, the natives
as they plied their spears, and wildly shouted
the hunters, despite the prospect of a broken
neck which stared them in the face.

Through the jungle and across the strip of
open ground, then, as they enter the tall grass
once more, a sharp cry comes from the lips of
Colonel Applebee, and the boys see him half~

raise his rifle, only to lower it again and shout: ‘

“ All eyes open—yonder they go, an old vixen
and her two cubs! They’ve turned lcross the
wind, and mean to give us the slip if they can.
Wheel the line, and use the matches!”

“ Great thunder!” cried Burt, his mouth open- 3
“It will be a harbe- ‘

ing as widely as his eyes.
cue, sure enough, once set this grass aflre, but
I’m blessed if he don’t mean it, though l”
Striking wax matches and casting them into
the jungle behind him as his ele hant strode on,

to the young rancheros Co onel Applebee.

seemed criminally reckless but as they saw
the Baboo and the riders 0

all the jungle fires might be different from thOSe
on the weed-prairies of their own country, and
casting aside all scruples, they added their mlte
to the conflagration.

U leaped the flames, crackling and spitting
as t e quickly-heated ases burst the thin shells
which had confined 1; cm and took fire. On
charged the ole hants, wilder yelled the na-
tives, madder sti l grew the chase.

That the tigers had taken the alarm was now
plain, for the occasional brief glimpses could be
obtained of their striped forms as they glided
swiftly through the Jungle, gradually vrering
around so as to take the breeze in their teeth,
like veterans who had been fire-hunted before
but vanishing again so quickly that the best oi

snap-shots could not have covered them with Y

an thin likeacertaint .

Igor agmile more that wild chase lasted, to
where the lay of the ground changed, and
ditches, gulches and dry watercourses inter-
Sected their course. Still on rushed the huge
chargers in the wake of the tigers, past bush
and brake, down steep inclines where they lay

their haunches close to the ground with out- ,3

stretched feet plowing up_ the dirt as they
slid forward, then scrambling up the further
side until it seemed as though they must iopple
over backward and forever crush the life out
or their riders, through the deusa scrub, where

v

the pad‘elephants ,
doing the same, they began to believe that after ‘

l

each thorn 'left its mark in red letters—and be.
hind all the roaring, crackling, darting flames
~—0ver all the suffocating cloud of comniingling
dust and smoke—ah! it was a wild, insane
chase, yet one never to be forgotten by those
who experienced it for the first time.

A loud cheer from the colonel broke the weird
spell that had taken possession of our young
friends, and they felt the headlong pace of the
elephants slacken.

‘ Run to earth!” cried the planter, exultantly.

“ No chance for them to give us the slip nou'zl
Lengthen the line and surround the patch of
jungle—quick l” v .

It was some moments before the lads could V "“
collect their rudely shaken—u senses sufficiently v
to comprehend what had ta en place, but then
they grasped the situation.

Hunted hard, the old vixen and her cubs had
at last sought refuge in amass of scrub and 
Jungle grass of no very reat extent, but thick , i
and almost nnpenetrab e. Surrounding this v
the grass was short, with scattered patches of .
brier and scrub, insuring a fair shot whenever .. ‘
the game could be driven from its stronghold, ' V. -
or he brought to charge. ‘. i
, With one more warning to the boys, Colonei ' it '
‘Applchee gave the word for the heaters and
‘ those on the pad-elephants to force the game
;from cover, but this was far easier said than
‘done. A hoarse, threatening snarl from the '
gloom put the heaters to flight, while even the

 

 

1 most stanch of the elephants flinched, trumpet- :-
: ing their dissatisfaction as the mahouts, ashen- I i
‘ gray with dread, but fearing the wrath of their ‘
master even more, tried to urge them into the

scrub. 
B “ tSet the brush afire—that’ll fetch ‘em i” cried x 
ur . ' ‘
The captain of the hunt hesitated for a mo -
merit, for he knew that the skins would be in- 
Jared by flames before the tigers brok'e cover,‘ '
but then he gave the word, and a minute later - .
Ehe patch of jungle was encircled by a ring of i 4‘ *
re. ‘
Sharp, angry snarls and deeper growls came
from the cover as the flames mounted higher
and all knew that the crisis must be close at

 

1 hand. » .' if
A wild cry—a lithe form darts through the '  
smoke and flame, so swiftly that the human eye ,   5

could see rcely follow it. A piercmg scream of
mortal agony, and then one of the cubs was
seen crouching on the body of a beater, work- .
1 mg its long claws in the flesh like a cat playin
With a mouse, while it glares defiantly aroun ‘ 
upon its startled foes. . ’
A shout from lance, who chances to be near-
est of those armed with guns, and a moment
later comes the report of his rifle. Roaring
sayagely, the tiger left its victim, and with one
mighty leap, covered half the intervening dis— ‘ ‘ z: i"
tance, but as he rose again, another weapon " " ’
vomited forth its contents, and the infuriated .  ‘
animal fell to the ground in a heap, stone

end.
“ Good shot, Percy i” cried Colonel Applobee,
{gagginglx but sw1ftly adding, “Look out,

The Warning was unnecessary. Eager to rr- "
deem what he telt had been a disgraceful biop-

 

 

   
   
    

 
 
  

The Tiger Hunters.

 

der, Burt caught sight of a striped form dart-
ing through the fiery circle, and swift as
thought his weapon spoke. Stricken full be-
tween the eyes With the hollow-pointed express
bullet, the second cub fell in a heap, its skull
shattered to atoms.

“Hurrayl” shouted the exultant lad as he-

witnessed the result of his shot. “ That’s the
way we do it in good old— (ire-thunder! there
she goes, tail-on-end—”

Less rash and headstrong than her cubs, the
old vixen broke away through the further side
of the burning patch, no doubt hoping to make
her escape while her enemies were so busy, but
keen—e ed Burt caught a glimpse of her striped
coat t rough the smoke and flames, and gave
the alarm, though he failed to get a shot at her
in time.

More fortunate was the colonel, and as his
double-barrel exploded, a frightful scream from
the tigress told that he had not wasted his

powder.
“ Hold hard!” cried the planter, as the young-
sters were shifting their positions in hopes of

- Scouting a shot. “She’s crippled so she can’t do
. any more damage.

Don’t ill her just yet. I
want to give you some idea of what a crippled
tiger is capable, once you fall into her reach.”

As captain of the hunt, his word was law to
the Baboo, while, as a matter of course, none of
the youngsters would think of disputing his will
'in such a case.

The elephants were brought nearer the crip-
pled tigress, and the boys gazed upon her with
something strongly akin to awe, and truly it
was a frightful spectacle.

Struck in the back, and its spine injured,
paral zing its hind quarters, the tigress yet re-
tain the use of its head and front parts.
Snarling, snapping and grinding its strong
teeth together. with its eyes glowing more
Vlvldly than fire itself, striking out with its
massive paws, tearing and rending the ground
Wlth its ong claws, dragging its crippled car-
cass along in savage longing to reach its foes
the creature was the very personification 0
mail ant rage and fury.

Co onel Applebee slipped to the ground. and
picking up a stone as large as his fist. tossed it
at the tigress. With a snarling cry, she caught
the missile in her jaws, fairly grinding it to
powder with one mighty effort.

“What would a man be in that grip?” gravely
asked. the colonel, but before either of the
yotngsters could reply, the Baboo spoke rapidly
to im.

Colonel Applebee bewed, and regaining his
seat, bade Burt change his seat a the two ele-
phants were brought close together, adding in
explanation:

“The Baboo wishes to show you some sport
with his flghtin duntar and the tigress. I

' can’t say that I ' e the idea, but the elephant

is his, to do with as he pleases.”

At a‘ word from Bikram Jha, the mahout
leaped from his seat on the neck of the old
tusker, while the remainder of the elephants
were turned away to a safe distance, allowing

. the novel duelists ample room for their work.

Of all the old tusker seemed the most
pleased. by he trumpeted sunny, his 11th. eyes

 

glowing, his huge ears as plug in savage satis-
action as he slowly circle around the tigress,
who, though crippled, seemed all the more fero-
cious and eager for the assault to come.

The Gang hunters watched the curious scene
breath essly, all their sympathies with the ele-
phant, despite their natural love of fair play.

t was impossible for one to look at that snarl-
ing growling beast, so full of malignant fury,
a? yé'ish it well, or even feel the slightest shade
0 pi y.

Round and round the tusker circled, making
various feinfs as though to attack, while the
watchful tigress still kept on guard; but then,
with a. wondrous agilit in one of such huge
bulk, the tusker raised his fore-feet and plunged
forward and downward, meaning to crush the
ti rose with a single shock.

t only partial] succeeded. The crippled
tigress was pinne to the ground, but it was
only her already helpless hind-quarters, and
with a roar of furious rage, its mighty jaws
closed on the rear of one foot, bringing a cry of
pain from the tusker. The old fellow rapidly
shifted its right foot, and the boys shouted in
glee as they heard the bones of the tigress’s
skull give way beneath that tremendous weight.

The tusker shook ofl the dead carcass, but in-
stead of pursuing its usual tactics, and crushin
the body until taken away by force, it hobble
away for a few yards, then stood on three feet,
blood gushing in a torrent from the other, while
the white ends of the torn tendons showed
clearly.

“ Crippled for life, poor devil l” muttered the
planter, yet with a touch of satisfaction in his
voice, which Burt detected and fully compre-
hended, though he made no comment.

The Baboo advanced to the side of their ele-
phant and said a few words to Burt, speaking
i9 rapidly that the lad failed to understand

im.

“ He wants your rifle for a moment; let him
have it,” explained the planter, in a whis r,
and without stopping to reflect, Burt obeye .

An instant later an indignantlcry broke from '

his lips, but came too late. The Baboo rode up
alongside the crippled tusker, and thrusting the
muzzle of the rifle almost against its temple,
pulled trigger. Stricken through the brain by
the express ball, the tusker fell in its tracks,
stone dead.

Feeling sick at heart and thoroughly disgust-_

ed Burt said:

‘Let’s 0 home! I’ve got enough of this.
Don’t let t at fat cuss speak to me, or I’ll have
to punch him in the snootl” and he averted his
head with a. shudder of strong aversion.

. CHAPTER V.
MAKING A NIGHT or 'rr.

COLONEL APPLEBEE fully understood the
feelings of mingled loathing and disgust with
which the heart of his nephew was filled, and
adroitly interposed himself as the Baboocaine
to return the rifle. his greasy countenance all
aglow, his pig-eyes glittering, his whole de-
meanor that of one who has just performed a

 

‘ feat of which to be proud.

“ Did you see?” he exclaimed, holdin

 

.
\.,

_ I up the '
rifle and patting it odmiflnxl: with a other ‘

  
 
   
  
  
  
 
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
    
  
   
   
    
  
  
   
  
 
   
 
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
 
   
    
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   

M. e.._;. W

_*~<~

      
   

 

' dendl

The Tiger Hunter-l.

   

 

hand. “Was it not beautiful, wonderful, inur-
velous? One shot, and pouf! the old duntar is
Shiva himself could not have killed it
any more quickly. Ah, the beau‘yl” and his
thick lips were applied to the bronzed barrel
with a resounding smack. “ It alone could
make a mi hty hunter of a blind and crippled
coward! hat, then, if such as I owned it?
Great Shiva! there would be no tigers, no pigs,
no nothing left in all India. ”

His breath failed him, the enthusiastic praise
died away in a husky, choking gurgle, and
Colonel Ap Iebee, leaning far over the edge of
the howda , took the rifle from his grasp, de-
spite the tenacious closing of the fat fingers.

“True,” he said, with a low bow, hardly able
to keep from laughing outright as he noted what
a sour look of disappointment came over the
face of the Baboo, “ ere would not be a single
head of big game left in the whole district, and
the s rt of these young sahibs would be
ruine ; but when they are ready to turn their
facas homeward, then they will pray their hon-
ored host, the mighty Bikram J ha. to accept a
present in token of their appreciation—”

“ Will it be that?” exclaimed the Baboo, vio-
lating all rules of his class, in his eagerness his
eyes covetously following the rifle which Zéurt
had reclaimed.

“That or another, just as our lord may re-
fer,” (auietly replied the planter, but urt
growls , sotto 120cc :

“If he gits more’n the stalling out of one o’
the shells, it’ll be when I ain’t able to kick
eg’inst it no longer—the cold-blooded varmintl
To butcher a poor critter like that, an’ then
make his brags over it—git away I”

“Choke it down, as best you can, my b0 ,”
softly breathed the colonel, even while bowmg
suavel in concert with the highly delighted Ba-
boo. ‘The old fellow is not so bad, after all,
when you get more used to the country fashions.”

But Burt did not wait to hear any thing more,
slippin out of the howdah and dropping to the
groun , joining Percy and Lance, who were in-
specting the dead tigers.

“ As usual, I bring up the rear,” said the lat-
ter with a shiver, as he averted his eyes from
the horribl mangled body of the beater whom
the flrstcu had stricken own.

“' You took chances which I dare not,” grave-
ly replied Percy, “ yet I had a broadside view
and a fairer mark.”

“I knew it was ris , but I didn’t see any
other chance of saving he poor fellow. Even
then I was too late!”

“ A bolt from Heaven could hardly have saved
him. I don’t suppose he knew what struck him,
the attack was so swift and deadly, That’s the
worst of this business. Hardly a tiger is killed
but what some one is hurt. Yet you could
hardly keep the natives away if you tried, and
there would be little Sport Without them to do
the starting.” ” '

“It’s fun alive, all but the after-clap, said
Burt, with a swift glance from the corpse 0’ the
native to the carcass of his fighting WSker-
“But I’ve at about enough of this Style Of
hlm . I’ a hea rather _ It on my own
hook. f we can’t 9 aka that ittle fat old cuss
pretty soon. I’m going to take a lay-off. One

 

more dose of him would give me the cholera-
niorlms sure I”

“ Well, we’ye had honor enough for one day
—four tigers IS a mighty good showing. There
comes father; we’ll ask him to put up the red flag
over the white one if you like that any better.”

Allusion has already been made to the '
blue flag shown by the captain of the hunt, i
and its import. The person thus officiating «
is also provided with two others, one red,  :
the third white. When a red flag is shown,

It means that the hunters are allowed to
shoot at an and all game which breaks cover
while the line of elephants is still maintained,
but when the white flag is hoisted all know that
they are homeward bound, and at liberty to
break ranks, to fire at will, and act independ— 
ently of the rest for the remainder of the hunt. . , s

The death of the beater subdued the spirits of ‘ 5":

the boys, and but little was said while the tigers . " f“
were being strapped upon the pad elephants. 
Then the colonel gave the word for advancing t 
With the blue flag still flying from his howdab. " , C

The march was a short one, however, and as ‘ ‘ 3
soon as the nearest tank where od water could
be procured was reached, the he was broken ‘
for dinner.

With the dead no longer before them. and in
the presence of an abundance of food, the hungry
youngsters soon recovered their wonted spirits.
Their appetites appeased, they reclined in the ‘
grateful shade beneath the cooling nkah, ._ - '1
which two statue-er natives kept in out mo- '

tion.

“Uncle Charles,” said Burt, at length, “ I’ve
been thinking how differently that old cat acted
from her cubs. They made strai ht at us, while
she tried to steal away. Looks li e she sent ‘em
out t3 draw our attention while she got of! un- 
seen. ' .

The colonel laughed softly before replying. ‘ ‘

“I’ve been waiting for that question, for felt
sure it would come, and I believe I can answer
it to your satisfaction

“Though the glory of the kill, perhaps, is not
quite so great, you can almost always depend on
a livelier time with a cub of that age—say about
two years old—than with an older tiger, be-
cause they are more headstrong and know less
about the danger they are encountering. .,

“ To begin at the beginning, when a cub in ; f
born it is about a foot long, and, like pup 163, V
are born blind. They have scarcely _an air , V
on them, but the stripes are distinctly mar ed on : 1.,
the skin. In nine days their eyes open: In a ..‘.;,.
gear the tiger cubs Will average something over "

ve feet in length, the tigresses a few inches
less. They rarely leave their dam before . the' 7
second year, when they will run from seven to “ ?
seven and a half feet in length. '

-‘ When they are about a year old their mother
teaches them how to kill, and, until they cast oi!
to battle for themselves, their lines have been ..
cast in pleasant places, for what they are unable 9
to accomplish their dam does for them, and thus ‘
far in life they have not learned what defeat
means. They see that she is almost invariably
successful in all she undertakes, and they begin
an independent life with the idea that the whole
world is their oyster, which they can open at _
Will. A two-year—old cub will charge a line ' 

 

 

«

.//

'.s~5.1 ': ‘

  
 

‘I 4 The ' Tiger Hunters.

 

 

that an old tiger will run from, and for that!

Very reason they are more dangerous than a

Veteran of double their might.”

“As they grow older do the stripes fade?“
asked Lance, looking toward the tiger first
slain. “That one is more of a dun‘color, and
the stripes seem to run together on its back. It '
is much heavier huilt, too.”

“Exactlv,” and the planter nodded approv-
ingly. “The tigress and these calls are genuine ‘
Bengal tigers. Yru see their stripes are (lis-.
tinctly marked, narrow and pure black. The 3
skull is low in the crown, wide in the ilaws,l
making it appear flat, in comparison wit 1 the i
one Burt shot first, which is what we call the l
Hill tiger.

“As you said, it is almost dun in general l
color. he stripes are double, with a dun cen-
ter. Its head is shorter and rounder than the
Bengal tiger, its body much thicker and stouter
in roportion. It is comparatively clumsy,

. mac less active, and from that very reason,
being unable to get away as rapidly and as si-
lently as the Bengal, is all the more dangerous
when brought to bay. More than once I have
seen them mistaken for a bullock, when the
smoke was thick or the twilight dee ening.”

Much more the boys listened to, eeply inter-
ested in the words of the colonel, who had been
a close observer, and knew well how to make
his doses of information palatable, but at length,
when the heat of the sun was somewhat tem-
pered, word was given for the march to resume.

When all was in readiness, the captain of the
hunt hoisted a. white flag, the heaters darted on
in advance, the elephants lumbered on behind,
no longer obliged to keep in line, while all eyes
were on the eager lookout for game, it mattered
not what.

More matches were lighted and dropped be-
hind them, the dry jungle crackling and roar-
ing, the flames leaping high toward heaven.
There was a double urpose in this. First, it
prevented any game rom skulking under cover
until the hunt had swept past them. Second, it
clears awn the dense covoring of dead grass
and gives t 6 fresh shoots room to start up.

The youngsters were in their glory now.
They had slain a sufllciency of large game to
satisfy their desires, and now that they were
permitted to fire at any game that broke cover,

_ they made the most of their privilege. Discard-
ing the formidable express cartridges, they
fll ed their magazmes With regulation shells,
and gave such exhibitions of their skill at flying
targets as caused the little pig-eyes of the fat

Zemindar to nearly pop from their sockets.

, Here a hog-deer jumped from its grassy couch,
only to fall into a lifeless heap as Burt’s uner-
ring rifle spoke a word to it; there a florican,
with its plumy pendants of mingled white and
black, doubles up and falls with athud as Lance
sends it an invitation to stop to supper; than a.
brace of jungle fowl drop right and left as
Perc dexterously handles his double-barrel,
now oaded with coarse shot; here a resplendent
peacock, there a. fox, and now a sleek buck,
with wide—spreading antlers, leaps u and away,
only to turn end ovor end as the co onel counts
a, coup. Again, with many an indignant hoot
and snort, a sounder of pigs crash through the

 

jun 10, and for a time the reports of rifle and
don llc-barrelcd smooth-bore ring out in swift
succession, for the hunters know that the vi]-
lage not far ahead is full of always hungry na-
tives, already licking their chaps in anticipation
of the glorious feast which their fat little lord
and master has assured them shall follow that
memorable hunt, and they know too that no va-
riety of game will come amiss, since every
caste, from the highest to the lowest, is con-
tained by that, as all other Indian villages.

As the sun sinks from view the village is
reached, and “or once satiated with the s ort,
our young friends slip down from the hue s of
their huge chargers and take a most welcome
bath in the tank of cool water which stands
hard by.

“ Hungry as hunters,” they gladly answer the
summons to su per—nay, it is a mighty toast,
with a spice 0 novelty hovering over it all,
which the brothers find not the least pleasant
feature. .

There are no plates, no knives, no forks. The
broad leaves from the nearest sal tree are
twisted around into shallow cups and fastened
Witha thorn. Into these are put the vianrls—
ricJ, meat and different vegetables, dhall, chut-
nee, curds, ghee, sugar and preserves; little
brass and horn drinking cups tilled with rice-
whisky and palm-toddy—all this and still more,
mysteries of the native culinary art, which the
yOlling rancheros eye suspiciously and taste cov-
ert y.

At first it causes them a little qualm when
their nearest neighbor, a tall, gaunt brahmin,
plunges his talon-like fingers into the leaf of

oils rice, rolling up a huge ball of the snowy
grains, dipping it into the leaf of melted butter,
then throwmg back his head and stretching up
his neck like a pelican in the act 0! swallowing
a fish or frog, dropping the dripping ball into
his wide-cplen mouth and sufl’ering it to slowly
slip down is throat without mastication, than
uttering a lazy grunt of satisfaction before re-
peating the operation ad infinitum.

Long before the fat Bahoo or any of the na-
tive guests were satisfied, the youn hunters
were vanquished, and seeing this 1'. e kind--
hearted captain of the hunt gave them the de-
sired opportunity of slipping away, excusin‘g
them to the Governor, who wished them to keep
him company in the debauch which, as amatter
of course, was to follow the feast.

“Thank the pigs! We’re well out of that!” ex-
claimed Burt, us they reached the tent which
had been erected for' their accommodation.
“One more such blessed tuck-out and I don‘t
believe i could tie the belly-band of the [at little
cuss around my grubbasket, without placing it
out with a trail-rope! Anacondas, every pesk
one of ’eml If some 0’ the lot don’t go 0% wit
a ’splosion atore they’re through, and leave
their mourning wives and widows to swee up
the pieces, then they’re lined inside an out
with Injun rubber, sure .’ ”

For some time they lay in the cool darkness,
talking over the exciting events of the day,
then, worn and wear with the violent exercise
-—harder than walking or running, Burt de-
clared—of clinging to their swaying howdahS.

  

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

    

a...

.. A—WT-fm—flvwf... A, n

' off!”

.,

tney tried to compose themselves to sleep, out
in vain.

The fiery rice-whisky and powerful palm-
toddy was beginning to do its work on the
brains of the feasters, and the home waxed
rather than waned. The usually tactiturn and
grave natives were all talking together, and
each one raised his voice hi her and higher in
the effort to make himsel heard, forming a
racket almost deafening.

At this stage of the game, Colonel Applehee
stole away from the revelers, and came to the
tent. He found the boys discussing the idea of
leaving for the jungle, but at a veto on that,
and by wrapping their hea s up in their blank-
ets, they drowned the noise so that they at
length fell asleep. Only to be aroused by a
frightful tumult, that caused them to start up
with exclamations of wonder and alarm.

“Bu’sted up in a row!” suggested Burt, dis-
gustedly.

“Worse than that!” cried the colonel, bound-
ing to his feet.

 

 

 

CHAPTER VI.
AT CLOSE QUARTERS.

YELLs and screams and bowls, coming from
the bonfire-lighted circle around the wide-

spreading pippul-tree, where the fatlittle Baboo ,

and his guests of many castes had been left in a
steadi] deepening debauch—a revel which now
seems to be turned into a pandemonium of
terror and pain.

For one moment the suddenly awakened
planter and young hunters listened, then. as the

The Tiger Hunters.

wild uproar increased rather than diminished, .

they gras d their weapons as best they could
in the dar , but ere they could do more, 8. cy-
clone seemed to burst over them.

Amidst frightful screams, the tent was
leveled to the ground, they were knocked down
and entangled in the folds of the canvas. while
an army of elephants seemed to be running
over theml Only a moment, then they realized
the truth, and knew that all this was caused by
a wild stampede of the revelers, from some
cause as yet a mystery to them.

. from the fire.
‘ open.

_ the night.

“ Dug mm ye I” growled Burt, fasteningu on ;

a form that fell across him and swiftly rol ing
it over. “ 6 our p‘izen gum-games on rue
will e? “playthe stuffin‘ out 0’ me ag’m,
won’ ye? Thar you’ve got it, chuck-up—J’

“Let up, Burt! chokingly cried a voice that
caused the angry lad to cease his sturdy punch-
ing instanter. “Confound it, boy, you’re stav-
. . .1)”,
mg  £19.de uncle, an’ I all the time think-
ing it waggne of them pesky uiggers,” gasped

' ' ma .

BIL!- ilvl: got cm? of them—if this foot don’t come
gurgled Lance, the words coming in short
jerks which told how desperatel the yelling
native was tryin to free himse f by frantic
kicking. “ Crow out, boys, and nab him while
I spit on my fingers for a fresh grip! if it’s a
$01K, we’ll have one nigger to hck or it, any-

owl ’ .

Once freed from Burt’s vigorous grip, Colonel

. Applebee drew his knife and slit the folds of

the tent open. then crawled forth and quickly

l

tore the covoring from ovor the three lads,
though a cry of rage broke from the lips of
Lance, as that action broke his hold upon the
ankle of the native whom he had captured.

“Rope him, Burtl. Don’t let him get away i”
he cried, still helievmg that this was a scurvy
trick being played upon them by the drunken
natives.

“Hold hard!” and the strong grasp of the
planter settled upon the two bewildered, ,oun
stars. “' There’s more in this than the idly; trio
you fancy. Hark!” "

The wild yells and frantic shrieks had-in a '

great measure died away in the distance, but as

he spoke there came the sounds of groans,

mingled with snatches of prayer and pleadings

go the gods of India, from the space beneath the
g-tree.

“Some one hurt over there,” added the col-
onel, releasing the boy and groping amid the
ruins of the tent for his weapons. “ Stay here
while I take a look—”

His warning came too late. Both Burt and
Lance darted forward to where they could
catch a View of the lighted circle and the
former now laughed aloud as he crie :

“It’s the fat little cuss and a couple more “
niggers—all in a heap, drunk, I reckon, with a
toucl} of the colic from the howling they keep
u _7

The lad’s raillery instantly ceased, and his
face grew grave as he noted a significant fact

which had until now escaped even his keen _ V

eyes.

“ There’s blood on ’em—too much to come
from a bout at fisticuffs—don’t you see?”

“Get your weapons before you come a foot
nearer l” sternly cried the colonel, brushing put
them and grasping a couple of blazing brands '
“ Take these and keep your eyes
. There’s danger somewhere-either a
tiger or a leopard. Eyes wide open and on your
guard!” ..

_ ‘I‘ Ole bugh, sahib!" hoarsely uttered Kolahala,
rising from the darkness as though a spirit of
_ “Jump in—maul Baboo, maul dam
—'pick up one man in mouth, den jump back in
night azam. Ole man-eater, sahib—big as .
duntar I”

“Only one tiger and a hundred men— at the
ran away, and you with them, Kolaha a!” ex-
claimed the planter, with cutting scorn in his '
tones. “ You, the mighty shikareel”

“‘Kolahala drink a heap, sahib," muttered the
native, his head bowed, but with the fire reflect,
ing redly from his glitterin eyes. “ Odders
run—Kolahala run. too. He runk. Dat make
him fool, an’ be ’fraid when he see all rest
’fraid too."

“ You are not with cowards now,” added the
colonel, conveniently forgetting the momenta
panic which he, together with the boys, had (3;
when the tent came down about their ears, and
a legion of screeching devils trampled them un-
der foot._ “ Look if the tiger is gone. Take that
Side, while I see to this. Make sure work. Boys
you stay here—J order it—and be ready to p0
in a shot if we make the bloody rascal break ‘
cover.” I ,

'ljhe search was brief but thorough, and then,
satisfied that the man-enter had indeed beaten

3'
I

 
 

.' l 'i, .‘ {3

     
   
  
   
     
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
    
   
  
 
    
     
   
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
  
   
   
    
  
 
   
 
 
    
  
 
  
  
    
     
   

 

 
   

a retreat with the horrible feast' which he had so
audaciously won, Colonel Applebee re-entered
the circle of firelight and looked to the still to-
cumbent, still groaning and pra in g Baboo.

Kolahala and the three boys out their assist-
ance, though Burt could with difficulty restrain
his scorn when he saw that Bikram J he had es-
caped with only a few comparatively trifling
scratches.

As the highest in rank, and therefore themost
important. the Baboo was first attended to,
hem carried to his house which stood not very
far ' taut, and in which were discovered sev~
eral trembling wretches, where they had fled
when the man-eater made his attack on the
revelers.

Rousing them to a sense of their duty by dint
of stem words and still more effective blows,
the Governor was left in their charge, while
the good samaritans returned to the feasting-

ground.

“ I knowed that little fat cuss didn’t have the
sand,” commented Burt, in an undertone, for
the benefit of whoever might be inclined to lis-
ten. “How he howled an’ grunted, jest ’cause
of a few little scratches no wuss than a feller’ll
give to a.’skeeter or a flea-bite, while that one,
with ”his whole scalp gone, don’t even whim<

1‘—

He ceased abruptli, as the colonel turned the
- man over on whom is eyes were fixed, and his
- ruddy cheeks ew pale, while there came a
sinking, fluttering sensation at his heart, for
now he could see why the unfortunate brah-
min had borne his frightful injuries so quietly.
He was stone dead, his scalp torn away, his
skull fractured by the fearful blow which had
stricken him down in the midst of the revelry.

The third native was senseless, his arm torn
and lacerated, dislocated at the shoulder, where

’ \ , the mighty man-eater had caught and given

him a playful shake, before choosing another
victim to carry away in its retreat.

By this time the natives began returning to
the spot, having run their terror off, as was
more likely, because they feared to remain
in' the darkness, and to them the dead and the
wounded were left. A

Colonel Applebee, assured by Kolahala that
the man-eater had certain] carried ofl! a vic-
tim with it, made a short ut stirring appeal
to the trembling natives, urging them to set out
on the track of the man-eater, and either trail
him to his den. or bring him to bay. They,
the whites, would answer for the rest. But he
might as well have spoken to sticks and stones,
for all the impression his elo uent words made.
Not one among them woul volunteer, even
when threatened with the dire displeasure of
their lord and master. Bikram J ha.-

“ Let the liu'li‘gsy critters gol” cried Burt, im-
patiently. “ ey’d be more in the way than
of any use. We don’t need ’em. We can do
the work a heaphetter without ’em, eh, boys?”

“If father Will lead us, yes," said Percy
while Lance nodded emphatically as he gripped
his trusty rifle. . .

The colonel hesttated. glanciugjdoubtfull at
the eager youngsters. Not that e feared t eir
courage would fail them, let the inch come

"Verso severe. but he knew that it would be

The Tiger Hunters.

 

l

 

risky work following up the old man-eater, on
foot and in the darkness, and these dashing,
impetuous lads Were more recious far to him
than the ap le of his 6 e or t e core of his heart.
He was rea y at all t mes to risk his own life—
but theirs—there was the rub! '

The sharp old shikaree, eager to win back the
confidence of the master whom he loved as few
of his class can love, read his doubts aright, and
coming closer, he muttered quickly:

“Kolahala take torch an go first on trail.
Ole bagh got meat, now. He like eat better
dan fight. He make sound ’fore he jump out.
Dat tell sahibs look out. They shoot—ole bagh
git kill, sure! It be all right, den.”

From personal experience Colonel Applebee
knew that the shikaree was speaking the truth,
and after so roughly scorin the natives for
their cowardice, he saw that e could not back
out without a loss of prestige dear to the sport-
maai. Only a brief period of hesitation, then he
sai : '

“You shall have our way, this time, boys,
though I am wea —criminall weak, some
would say—ituielding. It is a angerous piece
of work, and seven grant that you may all re-
turn safe and sound. But you must promise to
be wholly guided by my advice—promise on
your honor! ’ .

Promptly the pledge was given, and then arm
ed with ablazing torch in each hand, both to
cast light upon the trail and to protect him
against an attack b the ti er, when run to
cover, Kolahala led t e way om the circle of
fire at a. gliding trot, his keen eyes readily pick-
ing up the trail, though there were no traces of
ahuman body having been dragged over the
ground, as the lads expected.

“ Some mistake, I reckon,” muttered Burt,
dubiously but Kolahala, who oaughtthe words
and readily divined their meaning, painted to
here and t ere a spot of fresh blood alongside
the trail, while the planter supplemented:

“The ti er was carrying him clear of the
ground. have known them to do the same
with a full-grown bullock.”

Burt’s eyes opened widely, and had his in-
formant been any other than the colonel, his in-
credulity would have broken forth in words
more plain than lite.

Fortunately or the hunters. the and
around the village was tolerany clearof ungle,
though the man-eater had taken his line of re-
treat where the cover was most plenty, and to
the side of the town where the ground was
broken and too rough for cultivation to any
great extent. Here and there were patches of
tall grass or dense scrub and whenever the trail
led into any of these, Kolahala would make a
circle around at a safe distance, until he found
where the trail led on once more. _

Fortunately, too, for the tensely strained
nerves of the youngsters, the trail was not a
long one. When but little more than half a
mile from the village, Kolahala came to a small
but compact patch of 'nngle into which he saw
that the blood-stain spoor was leading, and
cautiously circled around, holding the torches
low to the ground, his glittering eyes' scanning
every inch of surface. to ward against pan-

 

   

a, ..

...kéi

The Tiger Hinton.

I?

 

ing Over the trail, should the man-eater have
continued beyond. I

Breathlessly the whites watched_him, not
knowing at what moment the furious man—
eater might break cover. in a deadly charge,
and as they beheld the shikaree suddenly start
erect and make a backward leap, uttering a
warning cry. their weapons leaped to their
shoulders, their nerves strung for the fight to
the death which they felt must soon come.

But they heard nothing, saw nothing of the
tiger, and as Kolahala came stealing back, the
colonel muttered:

“ What was it? What did you see?”

“ See notting—Kolahala hear I” was the swift

repl . “He in dar. Man make groan—not
dea yet."
“ The quicker we get him out. then, the bet-

ter,” said Burt, impetuously. “ Pitch in one 0’
them torches and set the grass on fire. That‘ll
fetch the striped rascal fast enough i”

“ No,” quickly countermanded the colonel, as
he saw the old shikaree draw back his arm to
obey the suggestion. “We will need the
torches to see where to aim. I came provided
for all emergencies,” drawing a small bomb
from his pocket.‘ “If there were only some
trees near enough—”

But there wasn’t, and the plantar ceased ab-
rupt] as he caught the sound of a threatening
grow coming from the mass of grass and

riers. Evidently the man-eater saw them,
and his ra e was rising.

“But t e poor devil in therel” exclaimed
Lance, hurriedly. “What of him? If he’s
still alive, we can’t burn him uK”

“Kolahala fix dat,” was the sty suggestion
of the shikaree. “ Seal” and he stuck the
torches into a patch of dry brush. “ Dat make
plenty light for shoot. Kolahala slip ’round
odder side. Den, when ole bagh come out, he
jum in, pull odder teller out. Dat do, eh?”

“ it must,” said the colonel, decisively. “ Un-
less we kill the tiger. the poor devzl is doomed
beyond all doubt. This way he has a chance-
Quick!” he grated, as another and still more
ominous sound came from the patch of jun ls,
while they could hear a. rustling among the y
stalks as if the ti er was preparing for its leap.

Kolahala glid swiftly away, and fearing to
wait longer, the planter lighted the fuse of the
bomb, holdin it in his hand until it was on the
point of expl ding, then hurling it into the cen-
ter of the covert.

Almost instantly the dry, tindery_mass was
all ablaze, and with every nerve like strung
wire, the daring hunters stood ready for the
struggle. For a breath all was silent as death,
save for the crackling of the sWIftly spreading
flames—then a horrible roar smote upon their
ears, and a long, heavy body shot out of the
midst of the smoke and fire, landing not adozen
feet awa from the y. _

Like oge wea n out rung the four miles, and
With a frightf roarof in and re e, the man-
eater once more leaped _orward, ’6 time fall-
inishort of the other mi hty bound. ’ .

cry of horror burst rom the planter s lips,
as he saw Lance slip and fall as he strove to
leap aside, and then he was struggling under
the that’s mighty pews!

 

Though they saw the same thing, not a sound
came from the blanched lips of. either Burt or
Percy, as they rushed forward, thrusting the

muzzles of their guns fairly against the head of ,

 

the tiger, firing and shattering his skull like an 3
eggshell, while at the same instant one hand of '
the colonel gripped the monster by the neck, his 1..
knife sinking to the very hilt through flesh and ‘ ,

bone, severing the spine.

“ Good enough i” cried Lance, cheerily, tearing I

himself loose and evading the now tremblin
arms of his uncle. “ The critter didn’t touc

me, and my worst wound is a tore trowser—leg. '

Seems like I was always the one to get in a.
pickle,” he added, with a forced laugh, that
could not entirely conceal the mortlflcation
which he felt.

All had been too terribly tried to say much,
though the grips which his hand had to undergo,
caused that member of Lance’s person to tingle
for hours afterward.

Kolahala had nobly performed his portion of
the work, and now brought around the bleeding
body of the native, still alive. though badly
wounded and scorched in places. The old shikaree
had not come off scotfree, having receivedquite
a scorching before he could find where the man
lay, but he made light of his hurts, more than

repaid by the consciousness of having redeemed _ ‘ ' '

hi lost credit in the eyes of his master.

As usual, after all danger is over, a number.

of the natives put in an appearance, and leaving
some of them, under the supervision of Kolai‘ia-

la, to remove the skin of the man-eater, others, -,  

were ressed into service carrying the feeny
groaning brahmin back to the Village.

“ Plagued if that little skrimmage don’t make \

me sleepy l” yawned Burt.

CHAPTER VII.
BURT cannons unmanas.
Tim sun was well up above the eastern bori-

 

zon when the three youn ters opened their - ‘

eyes on the morning after heir first encounter
with the monarch of the jungle, on foot, but
they leaped to their feet rapidly enough when
they beheld the planter standing before them,
his face preternaturally long an grave, as he
slowly shook his head from side to side.
“Something’s bu’sted wide open—what is it,

uncle Charles?” exclaimed Burt, ever ready .

with the first word.

“I fear it will fall heavily—on you especial-
ly poor Burt," was the grave, almost mourn-
ful response. “ But bear up—nerve yourself to
endure what cannot be cured. Remember that
the most fortunate of life-trails must have here
and there a thorn stretch in it, that we must
take the scrub and riers with the grass of life's
jungle—”

The planter’s_voice faltered and grew bus .
He averted his head as though to hide t 6
growing emotion of which he was ashamed,
while the three lads exohanged glances of wob-
der, doubt and bewilderment. What could it
mean? what had happened?

“Word come that we’ve ot to turn back
net as we was gittin’ our hands £

since they were all alive and hearty. .

 

 

well in—is the ' "
it. uncle?” ventured Burt, his usually fertile g " '
brain unable to think of any other calamity,

 

 

\

18

“No, my poor boy,” muttered the colonel, his
head still averted, his voice husky and trem-
bling with powerful emotion. “ Would that it
was no worse! But-the Baboo says he’s hurt
300 had to think of continuing the hunt to-

ay—

“ Hurray!” shouted Burt, too thankful for the
information conveyed to take umbrage at the
masterly “sell.” “That’s the best news I’ve
heard in a month 0’ Sundays, and I must give
you a big hug—help me, boys!”

Quickly Lance and Percy took the roguish
cue, and before he could make a move to es-
cape, Colonel Applebee was surrounded by the
youngsters, enveloped in their strong arms, en‘
tangled by their rapidly-shifting legs, until all
Went down in a heap together, kicking and
squirming, but above all laughing.

“Let up, boys, while there‘s two bones of
poor me' left united!” gasped the colonel. “ Let
up, on boy-constrictors! ’

f‘ on won’t do so never no more at all,

A - sca’oely l”

The colonel promised, and was suffered to
arise, just as the grinning Kolahala announced
the morning meal. The be S dashed out to the
tank which is the inevitab e appendage to all

. native villages which are not situated on or

near the banks of a stream, hastily made their
ablutions, then returned quite ready for eating
and the further explanation of the colonel.

This was given as they ate. Though the in-
juries inflicted by the tiger were scarcely
worthy a second thought, the Baboo was real]
prostrated by fright, and unable to rise. muc
ess continue the hunt, as prejected. He prof-

‘ fered the use of his elephants and servants, but

,1 it tickle you, little boys?

'retorted Lance.

believing that the youngsters would be quite
content to rest on the Jaurels which they had

already won in that style of hunting. he, the
cglon‘f, had declined the offer with many
t an s.

“ And mighty right, too!” exclaimed Burt,
nodding so impetuously that it seemed as though
he would jerk his head ofl’. “ It’s powerful
hefty on st lo, and all that, I know, and I ain’t
sorry that "re took ahack at it, but for upand-
down fun and neat work, give me 9. 00d horse
or shanks’ mare when I go hunting! ow does

“Anything to please the children, boy Burt,”
“The chief end of our trip is
to amuse you I believe.”

/“ I had an Idea that a change would not come
amiss,” the planter said, smilingly. “ While
you were, sleeping, I made all preparations, and
we will set out as soon as you like.”

, “ Any objections to tell us where and what
for? Not that it makes any particular differ-

‘ence, just so there’s fun and some sort of

game at the other end of the trail,” said Burt.

“Not in the least,” laughed the colonel. “ It
is only carryin out art of the programme
prepared for us y the shoe. It was intended
to take place here, but he has already sent a
runner out to his other village, where they will
be in readiness for us and it, by the time we get

' - there.”

 

7‘ Big it or little it?” innocently asked Burt.
“Do we hunt it, or eat it?”

“'Both.".smiled the plantar. reminded that he ‘

The Tiger Hunters.

 

l

1 had been alittle obscure in his langua o. “It
is the feast of C'humpa Buttep, the Hin oo god-

‘ (less corresponding to Diana.”

Burt groaned most lugubriously, his eyes roll-
ing wildly. both hands clasped over the pit of
: his stomach.

“ ’Nother feast? Moly Hoses! where's my hat?

-—I’m sick—I want to go home!” he gasped,
; brokenly.
“ Cheer up, my poor boy,” said the planter,
, encouragingly. “ This is a feast with t e feast
l left out, unless ou wish to put it in. The main
, part of it all is for ever body to kill be or
y steal some sort of meat, wi d or tame. 'l‘oo ate
1 now to explain more fully; it will keep until we
5 have more leisure. We must be stirring if we
l expect to have any sport by the way. ’VVhile
i you are getting ready I’ll make our adieux to
the Baboo,” and the colonel strode away.

Ten minutes later they were in the saddle, ac-
companied by Kolahala and followed by a cou-
ple of pad-elephants, which Bikram Jha insisted
should be taken to carr such game as might fall
before their weapons 9. ong the way.

“ Now thisis somethiuglikel” exclaimed Burt,
enjoying the free, easy going of his mettlesome
charger. “ Riding an elephant is all good
enough for once in a way, as it gives you a
chance to do some tall blowmg among those who
have never been so unlucky; but it’s like red
pepper—a little of it goes a powerful long ways
with me! A man can’t do justice to his gun,
‘cause he’s afraid every minute that he’s goin
to 120 pitched overboard to break his blesse
nec — ‘

“ But he has an elephant to kill his tigers for
him—you mustn’t forget that.” maliciously in-
terpolated Lance.

‘ Be a good boy, Lance, and when we get
home I’ll give you one of my tiger-skins- Unless
you let the cat out of the bag yourself. uobody’ll
know but what you killed it,” patronizineg re-
torted Burt.

The breaking away of a “ sounder " of pigs at
this juncture put a stop to the talk. and fora
few moments firing went on briskly, although the

- fugitives were not chased from the main trail,
as the village was still quite distant.

There is no necessity for following them step
by step, though that was a ride long to be re-
membered by the brothers. for game of almost
all sorts was unusually abundant, and though
no royal quarry was started from the dense
coverts, opportunities for shots were lenty at
game new and strange to them. hen the
colonel was in a talking humor, and gavo
them much important and interesting informa-
tion concerning the various birds and beasts
which fell to their us, as well as or the strange
trees and bushes a ong the trail.

Here grew the tall sal tree, one of the most
valuable timber-trees in all India, with broad,
glistening leaves, in which the usual course of
nature is strangely reversed, since the [cows in
spring are edged with beautiful bronze and
crimson, as though touched by {1-053 which

Yonder rose the irch-like siseoo, or sheshum, the
wood of which is em loyed for the native cart—

 

wheels. The kormb , whose red, stringy bark

'1: ’LfA-Ewu-w. . .

changes to dee green as the season a vances. ; "

the Hindoos use as touch-wood for their rude .'

 

The Tiger Hunters.

 

19

 

coverul with a. wondrous wealth of brilliant

matchlocks. The parass, which, in season, is i thought to the danger he was so rashly incur-

crimson flowers, with not a green leaf to be .

seen, for, like our native red—bud, the foliage
does not burst forth until after the blossoms
have fallen off. The mhowa, also a. blossoming

tree, whose wealth of white blooms scant the ,

air for rods around with the peculiar, sickly-
sweet perfume of our black locust, and from
which a strong spirit is distilledby the natives,
while the flowers form a favorite feast for the
deer, wild pigs and bear. The bill su‘ee, tall
and trim in shape, with graceful, feathery
foliage, the bark of which is used by the native
fisherman in his trade, as it possesses a stupefy-
ing power over the fish, when bruised and flung
into the tanks or streams, not unlike the effect
produced by the potent drug, indi’cus cacmclus.

Of these, of the birds and beasts, discoursed
the planter, and the interested boys hungupon

his words as though they would never tire of ‘
listenin ; but then came an interruption that a

drove a. 1 such thoughts from their minds, and.
formed one more thrilling incident for them to
recall with enthusiasm in the days to come.
Kolahala was riding a few rods in front, lead-
ing the way along the indistinct trail, when

jit caught beneath a

‘ this.

those behind saw him suddenly wrench up his ‘

horse, with a shar '
toward them, Wildly gesticulating as he
shouted:

“ Gaerha, sahib—gaerhal”

“ Gay what—Good Lawdl old horny himself,
or I’m a nigger!” cried Burt, as a huge creature
broke through the cover, charging after the
fleeing shikaree, but coming to an abrupt halt
as it sighted the little bed of horsemen.

“A rhinoceros 1” Mia Colonel Applebee.
“Wheel and Scatter! If he charges one, let the

rest fire; but look to your mounts—if one stum- ,

bles and falls, all is up with him 1”

There was time for no more. Always irri-
table and ready for a fight with big or little, the
rhinoceros, enraged by having its mid-day siesta
so rudely broken into, for Kolahala had almost
ridden upon it before makin the discovery,
uttered an angry snort, lowere its ugly, armed
front, and charged straight at the hunters.

In obedience to the colonel’s cry, the be S
wheeled their animals and scattered, at t a
same time firing upon the huge beast. Though

cry, then wheel and ride ‘

struck, the rhinoceros did not appear to mind ‘

the leaden hail, other than by uttering that
vicious snort once more, as it wheeled and
plunged after Percy, who chanced to fill his de-
fective vision first.

“ Give him the hollow-points, Burt l” shouted

Lance, ejecting the empty. shell from his Win.
Chester and replacing it With an express bullet.
While doing so, his frightened horsiAbolted,
and before he could regain control of it he
heard his brother cry out: I l
“Lance stuck a leopard, andam't got over
gging about it yet. I’ll stick a ~rhino, or
bu’st somethin l” «0‘
Colonel App abee uttered a cry of angry
. warning as he comprehended what the reckless
lad was about toattem‘iit, but if heard, he was
unheeded. The‘ dare- evil spirit Was fairly
awakened. and the young ranchero gave not a

' «u

l you, you graceless rascal,” laughed the planter.

. dust, while Burt, startled half out of his wits,
1 dropped astride its body, clinging to the upright

ring,

Slinging his rifle to the pommel of his saddle,
he drew the stout boar spear from its slings, , I, 7
and with a shrill yell of overflowing spirits, 
charged swiftly down upon the beast.

Still with its eyes fixed upon Percy, whose
horse was plunging with terrified snortin s ‘
through a dense patch of brambles, into whic
it had blindly bolted, the rhinoceros paid not
the slightest attention to the rest of the party,
and Burt forged alongside, drawing back his
right arm and delivering his s ear With all the
force he could command. at the tempered
steel only slipped from the tough hide, Without .
drawing blood, and Burt was almost thrown
from the saddle as his horse .made a sidelong
leap, terrified by its close proxxmity to the awe-
inspiring creature. -

Crackl went Lance’s rifle, and as though ~-
stricken by a thunderbolt, down went the rhi-
noceros, its long horn plowing up the 5011 until .
mass of roots, when the
huge creature fairl turned end over end, set- 'i
tling at last with its egs doubled up beneath it.

“Good boy Lance!” shouted Burt, as he saw ,
“But I said I’d stick a rhino, and sol ,
will, if only a dead one 1” ~ V ‘

Leaping to the ground, he nimbly sprung
upon the carcass, and adding all his weight to
the stroke, lunged the boar-spear deep into the-
rhinocaros, etween the shoulders. ,-

There seemed to be magic in that thrust, for
active as a cat, apparently unhurt, the rhinooei
ros regained his feet, shaking its head in a be-
wildered manner as though to clear its eyes of

 

spear—shaft with the desperation of a drowning ,
man to a plank. ' ’ x.

A hoarse cry from the agonized planter. as
he dashed up and emptied his weapon into the
huge beast, then made an ineffectual grasp at
the lad, foiled by the flinching of his horse. ,

Bellowing madly, the sharply stung animal
wheeled to charge, unwittingly giving Lance
the chance he quickly improved, sending an ex- , ~ 
press bullet crashing through the monster's , 3»
brain, splinter-mg as it struck, and blowing the V 1»
skull to bits. 

Again it plunged headlong, this time to rise“
no more, tossing Burt far over its head, intoa ‘
thorn-bush, from which he crawled with a sh
ish grin and deprecatory glance toward his
and‘frowning uncle.

“ Hurray for usl That’s the via we do »
things up in good old America!” he cried, "
shrewdly, and not without the desired eflect,
for 1the frown vanished from the face of his i 
inn: 9. ' ~. .

“ Scolding would be utterly thrown away on

But one thing you can depend upon: it ever 1-
get you safe back to the factory, I’ll take good ‘
care how I throw you into the way of such ‘
temptation again—mind that!” \ '

hen I‘reckon _I’ll have to make hay while ."' ~‘
the sun, shines,” grinned Burt, nothing donated. 3‘

Lance stuck a leopard. and brags abort it: >

even in his dreams, so I thought I’d 
. ,1

l

 

  
 

\

   
 
  
   
   
  
    
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
 
   
  
 
   
   
 
    
  
 
 
  
   
  
    
   
   
 
   
  

 
 

‘ ,the pa

;-.
g.

and go one better—and I did, tool I stuck a
rhino, and he was just dropping when Lance

had to put in and spoil his top-kuot—just so I‘

couldn’t wear it for a scarf-pinl”

“ Look!” and Lance pointed to the second
horn, ‘which was splintered badly.
what downed him the first time.”

CHAPTER VIII.
A CURIOUS BODY-GUARDl
As he spoke, Lance pointed to where his first
bullet had struck, squarely at the base of the
secondary horn, splintering it after a fashion

 

that spoke more eloquently than words in favor ,
of the ex ress bullet for dealing with large ‘

game. an properly proportioned, with the
cavity in tho point neither too large nor too
small for the leaden walls behind and upon
either side, and impelled by plenty of good
powder, no other weapon can begin to compare
' with it fordeadly wor . An explosive shell may
occasionally give better results, but they are
,not always reliable, and the very one on which
a. life may depend, may prove faithless. Their
main fault is that of exploding prematurely, or
when they first strike the object aimed at,
making a frightful surface-wound, but not af-
fecting any vital point.
Colonel Applebee, like all sportsmen who
keep a systematic record of all their kills among

' I . the big game, was busy with his tape measure,

Iance noting down the dimensions as called
out. Eleven feet six inches from the snout to

‘ V the tail; six feet seven inches in hight; girth a

little over ten feet, and main horn nearly eight
, inches long.

Bare] were these observations made, when
were startled by aconfused uproar,
coming from some distance ahead on the line
they were to follow to reach the village, but
growing momentaril louder. Loud bellowing
and routing, the shr' lcries of a human being,

' i either in mortal pain or airtight, mingled with

, angry snarls and roars such as only atiger or
tigress could emit.
At a sign from the planter, Kolahala darted
on ahead.
, “Mount, lads l” cried the colonel, setting them
the example by leaping into the saddle. “ We
may have to ride for life if the herd is charging
{hi1 way. Keep close together and follow my
on
Dashing on in the direction of the alarm, they
quickly overtook the shikaree, who had paused
on the edge of a level plain, almost entirely
free from cover, and near the center of which a
. strange drama was being enacted, as though for
their especial benefit.
A whirling eddy-ing- cloud of dust hung over
the actors torn mm the earth and cast upon
the air by hundreds of pawing, trampling hoofs.
» Snorting fiercely, clashing their long horns,
,, their eleven hoofs rattling sharply as they
cha was aherd of more than a hundred
. bulb oes.
“ A. tiger!” cried keen-eyed Burt, pointing out
ahuge, striped cat, toward which the rage of
the herd seemed directed.
“Yep—she has hit ofl.’ more than she can

. ’ “book your fill while you may, for

The Tiger Hunterl.

“ That’s =

chew,ith1s‘time, from the looks,” replied the .
planter

 

you may never see another such sight in a life~
time." But keep ready for a dash it it comes to
t at.

“ Lookl there’s a man on one of those cattle!”
muttered Lance, his eyes glowing with excite-
ment.

“ The gwalla, or cowherd. See—he is urging
his charge on. By the Lord Harryl I would
give a horse to be in his place now!" and the
eyes of the enthusiastic sportsman glittered, his
breath coming fast and hotly as he viewed the
peculiar scene.

Mounted on one of the leading bulls, was the
form of an almost naked man, waving his long
spear, gesticulating wildly, though the sounds of
his voice were drowned by the clashing of horns
and clattering of hoofs as the buifaloes made
their short, blundering charges.

At each of these rushes, the ti er or tigress
would retreat with swift boun s, then tum
around, crouching close to the ground, showing
its teeth, snarling savagely, reluctant to retreat.
yet fearing to attack where such an array of
sharp horns guarded every point.

In the front ranks were the males of the herd.
Behind them came the cows and younger mem-
bers, with the calves bringing up the rear, malt;
ing short, blind rushes here and there, stretching
up their necks, shaking their heads and switch-
ing their tails as though at a loss to understand
what it all meant, now breaking away in terror
as a shapeless mass was tossed high into the air
above the charging herd.

“A tiger-cub!” exclaimed the planter, as he
noted this. “That accounts for the old vixen
showing such a bold front. Ready, boysl We’ll
have to take a. hand in, unless we want to be
run over.”

Keeping well under cover, he rode rapid] to
the right. by this move gaining a point rom
whence there was no danger of the gwalla or any
of his herd being hit by a ricochetting bullet.
Then, at the word they dashed out into the open
groujnd and halted, firing as the planter'gave the
wor . I >

The tigress leaped high into the air whirling
over and over, falling back in a writhin heap,
deatlh-stricken before it could realize 9 new

eri .

Nor did the gwalla or his herd notice the new-
comers until the sharp volley rent the air,
when a change as sudden as it was ludicrous
took place.

voice and spear-staff, now ya] ing at the snort-
ing buffaloes, now reviling the sullen tigress
with every insulting epithet his nimble tongue
could utter, displayin a bravery that might
have shamed many a ar better-armed man, the
gwalla was panic-stricken by that unexpected

safety in flight. .
Scrambling to his feet upon the shaggy back
of his charger, he turned his face toward the
rear of the agitated herd, leaping from one to
the other with all the agility and sure-footed-
ness of a professional tightrope-dancer, unti
nearing the hindmost, when his foot slipped, or
the cow on which he intended alightin shifted
her position, and he fell flat across her ck on
? his stomach, yelling frantically as the terrified-

 

  

From urging his curious bod -guard on with'

discharge, and with a wild yell of terror, sought '

‘u—«mm

 7~

         

'1 w

   

 

The Tiger Hunters. V 31

   

 

creature started 01! in a mad gallop, snorting,
bellowing, doubtless thinking some bloodthirsty
enemy had attacked it. But the demoralized
cowherd hung on with a grip that defied her
utmost efforts to loosen.

Shouts of laughter came from the spectators
of this truly ridiculous scene, but _their mirth
was short-lived, for they were quickly made
aware that danger threatened them.

The buflaloes, as the tigress fell in its death-
agony, made another rush, and trampling the
carcass into a shapeless mass, were tossing it
high into the air, catching it upon their sharp
horns as it fell, when the foremost bulls seemed
to discover the presence of strangers for the
first time.

Once more they presented a bristling front,
pawing up the earth, shaking their heads until
their long horns clashed against each other,
forming anything but an agreeable sight.

“Hail that fellow, Kolahala!” cried Colonel
Applebee, hastily. “Make him understand that
We are friends, or those ugly devils will charge
us when only a run will save our bones. Quick
—in his own tongue I”

The shikaree obeyed, at the same time dashing
diagonally across the front of the herd, thus
drawing their attention upon himself. The

earest of the creatures made their customary
short charge, but Kolahala easily avmded it,
shouting some swift 'sentences which they
seemed to recognize, for they halted in a bewi -
dared manner, thus giving im the time neces-
sary to reassure the terrified cowherd.

This was quickly accomplished when the
gwalla once recognized the human voice, and
he soon had his herd under perfect subjection.

As he came closer the riders saw that he had
been badly mauled b the tigress before rescued
by his herd. His odv and one thigh bore
marks of her teeth and claws, and he was bleed-
ing freely, though he did not appear to mind it
much. ‘

“ He says he was sleeping under a tree over
yonder,” the colonel ex lained to the brothers,
who were unable to un erstand the rapid speech
of the native, “when he was pounced upon by
the tigress. She had young cubs with her,
which explains why she did not kill him at once.
While she was playing with him, as a cat does
with a. mouse, he called 11 his herd, and the ti-
gress dropped him to save er cubs. He jumped
on a bull and went in to get square for his hurts

are.”
nugylsicuspection it was found that the skins of
both ti rose and cubs were ruined, torn and
rasth y the horns and boots of the buffaloes.
This was a reat disappointment to Burt, who
was particu arly desirous of obtaining the skin
of a cub to make him a saddle-skirt, but the
1055 was quickly for otten when the planter
iromised him an exhi ition of native skill and
ingenuity, such as few white men have wit-

nessed. . .
alla was given a_ drink of brand

thgdlzbg'golonel hinted to him_that they woufii

be greatly pleased to have him furnish them

With a. little fresh pork, in return for which

they would present him and his with the carcass ,

°‘§,§§;‘“€.§°&.‘3§, this great inducement. the

.

gwalla would have‘ granted his wish, but now
he was more than willin todisplay his man-
ner of encountering the wfid boar.

Where game of all sorts were so plentiful it
was not difficult to starts. pig or two. and
mounted on a chosen buffalo, leaving the re-
mainder of the herd to shift for themselves, the
cowherd led the way into the jungle, while the
colonel explained to the boys the working of
the weapon he carried.

This was a spear, with a head not unlike those
used by the white pigstickers, with a broad, I
sharp head, but provided with a short socket r
into which was thrust the end of a slender and - ' '
pliable but tou h bamboo shaft, some three
yards long. A ong, twisted cord of buffalo-
hide was secured by one end to a hole in the
socket of the spear-head, the other end tied
firmly around the middle of the shaft. When
not in use, this .cord was kept coiled around the
shaft. In addition to this spear, and a knife,
the cowherd carried another weapon, some- "j v
thing like the uartervstail! of olden time, iron- ,
bound and sh , armed with which alone, men» '
of his caste have been knowntoattack and drive
a tiger away from the carcass of a fresh kill.

Before the had proceeded far into the jun- »
gle, the gwa la turned his head, his eyes glitter-z
mg as he made a swift sign. ' '

“Halt!” muttered the planter. “He sights .
or scents game, and if we go further we will
frighten it before he can get within striking ‘
distance—”

 

 

His words were cut short by a savage grunt. * y,
from the dense cover, and out burst a huge.
boar grinding its teeth in a blood-curdhng man- ' .
nor, hut suddenly swiping as it beheld the lowr
cred frontlet of the uffalo, a parently recog-
nizing an enemy it had learne to fear. , 1

Quick as light the right arm of the gwalla
went back holding the bamboo spear at apoise,
then shot forward, and as the keen steel sunk ,
deep into its shoulder. the boar gave a fierce
grunt and wheeled in fli ht. ‘

As it did so, the gwal a gave a loud cry of " .
triumph, and the boys saw the spear-shaft fall ‘ '\
from its socket, and the rawhide cord untWine V
as the boar fled. ‘  ‘

Apparently enjoying the hunt to the full as u
much as its naked rider, the buffalo bull plunged , 
through the jungle hard at the heels of the flee- 3}
ing boar, and bringing up the rear came the ; 
horsemen, eager to witness the result. ,

This came right speedily. Being tied around -
thamiddle of the shaft, the cord unwound, and
then the stout bamboo acted as an anchor, be- u
coming entangled among the scrub, finally“
bringing the boar to a stand-still.

Slipping of! his ungainly charger, the waiter ~ -
poised his heavy lathee, and dexterously avoid- ‘
ing the mad rush of the pig, dealt it a stun-
ning blow across the .back, disabling it for, the .’
moment, then recreating his blows with all the ,
force and rapi ity he could command, soon- ‘ ;_
beat in the skull and killed the boar, then med ' .
laughingly toward the astonishedJads. v 5

Colonel Applebee moved forward to conth V
late him, but in doing so was 0in ed to '

 

 

  
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
  

 

beneath a mass of creepers,,one 0 which 
i came entangled in his floating puggeree.‘ In
freems himself. the planner tore down one 9!

  
 

/

The Tiger Hunters.

 

fell from above. .
Kolahala uttered a warning cry, but it was

too late. The colonel was covered with a swarm

of the dreaded red ants, and their poison-laden

forceps were already at work.

even then mindful of others. “ If they get on
ou—

y With a half-stifled cry of angry pain, his ad-

gan strip ing off his clothes as he danced around,
slapping iis person here and there, performing

kept from bursting into laughter. Much less
the boys, though they did try hard to choke
back their mirth at the extraordinary spec_ta~
cle, Burt falling from the saddle and rolling
over and over the ground, snorting and gasping
like one in a fit.

_ It was an unlucky move on his part. for he
rolled into a. nest of the still more dreaded
ground bees, or bhowras. Instantly the air
was filled with their angry buzzing, and Burt’s
mirth changed to a yell of agony as they settled
on him.

“Run,.sahibs, run!” cried Kolahala, dash-
ing forward and dropping a blanket over the
luckiess lad, then pic ing him up and dashing
away for the the open grounds as soon as poser

ble.

All fled at top speed, but the winged demons
followed and overtook the sw1ftest, giving them
many a hot reminder before they were beaten
off.
 ludicrous spectacle they presented, when
the enemy was finally beaten off. Already
their hands and faces were beginning to_ swel ,
and painful lumps to start out upon their per-

,sons where the poisonous stings_had saluted
' them,while the planter was in still worse con-
dition, having received a. double dose, none the
less potent from having discarded nearly all of
his wardrobe before Burt awakened the hor-

nets.

“ That’s the way we do in good old America l”
ventured Percy, laughingly, hut dodging sud-
denly as Burt struck out at him savagely.

“ Sahibs wait a little—Kolahala git cure
ritty soon,” said the shikaree, slipping from
's horse and gliding away.

“Dam such a country, anyhow!” growled

   

' "l  Burt, gingerly rubbing first one afflicted spot

after the other. “It was fun alive, watching
tuncle dance—hal ha!” and for the moment all
. pains were forgotten in the remembrance of
that ludicrous spectacle. I

The planter also joined in the merriment, but
it was in a half-hearted way, and he. blushed
like a school-boy as he tried to cover his naked-
ness.

With a grin on his blood-stained countenance
which he vainly strove to conceal, the gwa_lla
approached, and touching the blanket which
Kolahala had used in attempting to protect his
,mvorite, he uttered swiftly in his own tongue:

“Give me this, and I will get the sahib’s
‘ clothes”,
‘ It isneedIess to say that the colonel gladly
assented, and wrapping himself from head to
tootin the blanket. the cowherd entered the

vice ceased, and leaping from his horse, he be- ‘

_ , |
the long lines: and a red Shower immediately l 'ungle, droppingupon his hands and knees when

e neared the spot where the still excited hor-
nets were buzzing around, cautiously secured
the scattered garments, now and then grunting
in imitation of a hog as he worked, finally re-

‘ treating without receiving a single sting as a

“Run—out of the way!” cried the planter, ‘

such antics that an anchorite could not have 3

 

reward for his audacity.

At the same time Kolahala returned, bearing a
quantity of leaves, which he assured the suf-
ferers would effect a speedy cure, when chewed
to a pulp and placed upon the stings.

For the next half hour, all hands were too
buisily employed for speech, but at the end of
that time, they felt greatly relieved, Kolnhala
having told no more than the truth when he
promised them a speedy cure.

Colonel Applebee now told the cowherd where
he would find the body of the rhinoceros, and
with many bows and grateful thanks, the
gwulla mounted his buffalo and rode away.

“ Come,” said the planter, mounting his horse
and seating himself gingeily in the saddle.
“We must be traveling, if we are to reach the
villa ge before sunset.”

“But the pork, uncle,” put in Burt, with a
grin. “ Sha’n’t we go back after that? I reckon
we’ve earned it.”

“Another word, and I’ll send you after it!”
said the colonel, with assumed ferocity. “ Si-
lence in the ranks—rifle on! “ Pork isn’t healthy
this time of year, anyhow l”

CHAPTER IX.
THE FEAST or DIANA.

TEE village was reached in the course of time,
and found to be of considerable size, much more
cleanly and healthy—looking than the toWn of
Bikram Jha, though still filthy enough in the
estimation of the brothers, who were not yet
habituated to the habits of the lower classes.

All of the party were sore from the effects of
their encounter with the pests of the jungle,
and after paying the head man of the village a
brief visit, and promising to join in the hunt of
the coming day. Colonel Applebee retired to the
but which had been hastily erected for their
accommodation on orders received from the
Bahoo. ‘

This, not being thoroughly dried, possessed a
smell which was anything but agreeable, and
awakened the curiosity of the young rancheros.
The result of their investigations, added to those
explanations by the planter, resulted thus:

Those of the Nepaulese settled in British ter-
ritory are known by the native name of Par-
buttroas, while those across the border, where
our friends now found themselves, are known as
Paha'reeas, a native term, meaning mountain or
hill men, derived from pahar, a mountain.

The conical, thatched hut occupied in the
hunters, was of the national pattern. row
of bamboo stakes were planted firmly in the
ground, in circular form. Rice-straw was
twisted into ropes, then woven in and out
around the circle of osts, pounded down close-
ly until the desired ight was obtained.
structure was then lifted upon a raised plat-
form, the corner posts of which stood on glazed
earthern pots, inverted to guard against an in-
road of rats, mice and other vermin. The
walls were then plastered inside and out with g

The Tiger Hunters.

s

 

mixture of mud, chopped straw and cow-dung,
when a thatched roof was clapped on top and
the building was done. .

Another ap lication of bruised leaves was
made to their hurts, and the hunters secured a
fair night’s rest, awaking with the coming of
day refreshed and ready for their part of that
da ’s ceremonies.

The entire village was afoot, eager, excited,
talking, laughing, jesting and playing tricks
among thrmselves or closely noting the move-
ments of the honored guests of their lord, Bik-
ram Jha, the fat little Baboo.

“ We will not require the horses today,” said
Colonel Applehee, as the young hunters fill d
their ammunition belts. “Our stations will
not be far from the village, as the heaters do
most of the work, and drive the game to our
stand.”

Kolahala had not been idle, and having
learned where the best prospect for sport lay,
he led the way through the dense jungie, clear-
ing a path for those who followed with a kook-
ree, the national weapon of the Hill-men. This
was a long, heavy, broad blade, carved some-
thin like a cimeter, but with a thick back,
lending force to a downward blew. Striking
right and left, with a. peculiar twist i0_fhe
weapon that cast the severed brush and vmes
aside even as it severed them, Kolahala cleared
the way as fast as the rest cared to walk, and
was not long in reaching the pOint where it had
been decided the hunters were to take their sta-
tions.

This was well into the edge of the sal jungle,
and an hour earlier a large number of coolies

had stolen on in advance to spread out and form ,

the beating party to drive the game toward
this spot, where such as escaped the guns,
would have to run the gantlet ol.’ the nets be-
yond. These were quite a quarter of a mile in
length, when fully extended, fastened to stakes
and tree-trunks, while the net-men, armed With
clubs and every conceivable weapon save fire.
arms, lay in hiding at the wings and behind. the
nets, ready to lea up and slaughter the terrified
animals when t ey became entangled in the
nets.

Several hundred yards ahead of these nets,
the hunters selected stations, covering as muc
ground as possible, though taking care to keep
within supporting distance of each other, should
such ail become necessary. .

Kolahala kept with his favorite, Burt, and as
after~events proved, most proVideiitially. . _

For some time after securing their pOSitions,
all was silence in the gloomy forest depths,
and Burt gave a. short sigh of relief as a troop
of monkeys came swinging their way through
the overlapping tree-tops, playing ‘their pranks
with many a grin and chatter, acting in such a
ridiculous manner thfiit the lfun-lfiiviug lad was
no i tosmothera eary aug . .

This? sound attracted the. attention of the
monkeys, and for some minutes thc slyly
watched them, peering around from t 9 tree-
trunks and larger limbs, but gradually their
suspicions were lulledhand their latent mis-
chievousness displayed itself. One of the lead-

‘ ers, not Satisfied with grinning and chatterigg

at the intruders, broke 03 u decayed limb, a

hurled it at Burt, with such precision that‘only
a brisk ducking of the head saved the led from
an ugly rap. As though this was a signal for
hOstilitics, every monkey rasped and flung
something, if only a handfu of leaves, chatter- \
iiig angrily the while.

“Come, now!” growled Burt, as he bum d
his head against the trunk of the tree behind
which he had taken his station, in dodging a
missile. “That’s too much sugar for a cent!
You ain’t going to have all the fun—”

He was raising his rifle, when the hand of
Kolahalai fell upon his arm, and he looked up to
see the stern expression on the old shikaree's
face which spoke plaincr than words.

“ Mebbe they’re your brothers, but they ain’t F
mine," said the young ranchero, doggedly.
“Make ’em move on, then, or I’ll salivate a ~
thousand or two, sure as shootingl”

Fortunately, perhaps, at that moment the
sounds of the line of heaters came down the
wind, and taking the alarm, the monkeys disap-
peared like magic. ‘

“Look out, sahibl” muttered Kolahala, his
black eyes glittering like coals of fire when .‘
fanned by a breeze. “ Dey come now—plenty
shoot—make big heap 0’ meat!”

“I can’t hear nothing, nor I don’t believe
you do—hellol there‘s something—the mate to
Lance’s spotted cat, by all that’s holy l”

Kolahala uttered a warning cry, but too late.
Burt had caught sight of a leopard stealing
Silently along through the forest, coming
straight for their stand, and l’earinur to lose a
cbance on such rare game, he raised his rifle
and fired, quick as thought.

I With a snarling yell, the hard hit leopard
' bounded forward, straight at the oung ranch~

ero, who, in his excitement had leaped to his
feet. The distance was so short, the movements
of the leopard so swift, that Burt was unable to
j cock and bring his rifle to bear, but with a wild
I yell, Kolnhnla sprung between him and the in-
‘fui'inted creature receiving it with a savage
l stroke of his loan crate, the keen blade striking .

fairly across its throat. nearly severing the,
head from the body. Yet, so impetuous was
l the leap of the lee ard, that the shikaree went
{down before its 0 urge, while the u ly fangs ,
,‘fastened upon his left arm, which be ad flung .

out to protect his throat. “
l Quick as a flash Burt dropped his rifle, and '
‘ drawin his hunting-knife, grasped the beast by

 

 

the bee of its neck, driving the keen blade to" . '

lthe hilt in its side, repeating the stroke with
dfidfly swiftness, that et out the little remnant
o i e.

Kolahala rolled the carcass over and strove to
regain his feet: but even in death the savage ‘
creature retained its grip, the teeth being fast
locked, and it was only when the muscles of the .
massive jaws were severed that his arm could
be releasad.

 

The wound was_an ugly one, and Kolahala I 
was urged to permit some of the net-men to car- _ ‘

ry him back to the village; but, though his '
dark eyes grew soft as he listened, he laughingly. 
refused, only asking that a fold of his turban be '
bound tightly under the injured member to
check the flow of blood. '
“ I won't forget it soon, old tellow,” whispered

 

 

 

 

 

The Tiger Hunters.

 

Burt, his blue eyes winking fast to keep down

, the moisture he was ashemed to have seen.
“ Only for you I would be in heavon or some
less pleasant seaport, by this time. I’ll lay it up
against you, be sure of that!”

“ It was nothing,” softly said the shikaree, a
strangely soft light in his eyes as they dwelt
upon the open countenance of the lad who had
taken his heart by storm. “Kolahala would
la down his life at aniltime to save the oung
Bahib from a scratch. al” he exclaime , hiss-
ingly. “They come—back, sahibsl Shoot-—
kill—plenty sport now 1”

Nearer came the line of heaters, steadily con-
tracting their lines, booting, yelling, beating
gangs and old kettles, anything to make a
hideous racket and keep the terrified game
straight for the ambush.

Back to their stations dashed the marksmen,
none too soon. ‘

First came a troop of monke , hopping and
shambling alon on all-fours; ut, as they are
deemed sacred, olahala rose up, and, waving
his arms, frightened them off to one side, be-
yond the line of nets

Then came other game in swift succession,
and the rifles began to merril speak. Deer,

igs, foxes and jackals; peafow s, floricans and
Jungle-cocks, with countless other birds and
animals, until the magazine rifles and double-
barrel breech-loaders grew hot with rapid firing.

Nor were the men at the nets idle. As the
terrified game became entangled in the meshes,
the rushed forth from cover and plied their
clu and other weapons with frantic fury, un-
til the scene became one of sim le butchery.

Only for a few moments this asted, butit was

_ long enough to pile up sufficient game to fur-
nish the entire village with a feast, and when
the natives began to gather up their nets to
choose another location for a driva, the colonel
shook his head gravely.

“ Let them 0 alone, boys. This is enou h to
make me feel ike a cold-blooded assassin or a
month to come! It is all well enough for once
in a way, since you came out here to see the
customs of the country, but butchery 18 not

oft.

If the youngsters did not fully coincide with
this opinion they were too Wise to say so, and
back to the village the little gait made their
way, where Kolahala was kin ly orced to have
his wounds washed and dressed, then to lie down
and remain quiet, to ward OR the fever which
mi ht otherwise follow. '

he colonel, as they sat in their cool hut, gave
an interestin account of the national feast.
which be c ed the Sirwah Purrul, or annual
feast of huntsmen.

It was given in honor of the Hindoo goddess ,

of the chase, Uhumpa Buttce, and every male
is in duty bound to go hunting and bring in
some meat, whether of flu, fur or feather, even
if they have to beg or steal it. .

In conclusion, he gave Burt some good advme
on the subject of leopard shooting.

“ Never fire at one when it is coming head-on,
even when the chances are a hundred to one in
favor of your killing it in its tracks. That hun-
dredth chance may be the very first one to

 

I

laughed the rogue.

Err}, up, and the result he the losing of your
1 e.

“ But those are the chances we all must take
when we go out after big game,” argued Burt.

“Not when you can avoid it, my boy,” was ’

the sober response. “ It is not cowardice, but
simple common-sense, to take all reasonable
precautions. Let the leopard or tiger, if you
are hunting afoot, pass by you, or at least get
opp051te, before pulling trigger. Then, if only
wounded, he is almost sure to blindly charge
straight ahead, and thus give you a chance to
put in a second shot. 0f the two, I would
rather meet the attack of a wounded tiger than
of a leopard. He is smaller, but far more cour-
258032, and twice as dangerous at close quar-
rs

.Much more was said, but a lack of space for-
bids a repetition here. Nor need much he said
of the feast which took place that night, since it
was but_a re tition of the one at the village
over which ikram Jha presided, but a little
less dignified from the outset, and, consequent—
ly, even more noisy and boisterous.

A very little time satisfied the«youngsters,
and though there seemed slight prospect for
sleep that night, they soon retreated to their
but, to pass away the hours as best they might.
But the night was not to ass without its excit-
ing adventure, and this east, like the one pre-
ceding it, was fated to be summarily broken up
by an outsider.

It was near midnight that the drowsy lads
were startled his; a frightful uproar outside and
snatching up t air rifles, they rushed forth, to
witness a strange sight.

In the midst of the blazing fires a huge ani-
mal was rolling with mumed, choking growls
and bowls, kicking the brands and glowing em-
bers in every direction, while, with ya) s of
terror the natives were seeking safety in flight.

“A tiger,” cried the planter, who had laid
aside his weapons, as the youngsters came up.
“ Shoot him—’ .

His words were drowned by a'vollev, and
with one spasmodic bound, the tiger fell in a
heap, dead. -

An inspection revealed the cause of his strange
actions, and explained why he had not injured
an of the assembly.

he large knee-bone of a bullock was wedged
fast in its throat, and the helpless brute was
choking to death when, blind in its agony, it
rushed into the circle and fell into the fire.

“I never knew of a case like it before,” said
the planter as they returned to their hut,
“thou h I have seen even larger bones taken
from t e stomach of a tidger when opened.”

“Do you know,” sai Burt, slowly and so-
berly, “I am almost so we killed the r
critter, instead of sending or a doctor and av-
ing the bone pulled out.” ~

‘ What do you mean?” asked the colonel, in
surprise.

“ That he bu’sted up that p’izen row, and now
we can take a snooze in peace and quietness,”

———.

  

 
   
    

  
  
  
   
 

 

   

 

 

 

.. *1- n...«. .

The Tiger Hunters. 25

 

CHAPTER X.
ARISTOCRAT AND PLEBEIAN.

FOR sevsral days nothing of particular mo-
ment occurred to the young tiger-hunters. They
made the Pahareea village their base of opera-
tions for the present, as an abundant supply of
game, both large and small, was alwa s to be
found within a reasonable distance, an at the
same timeColonel Applebee could make arrange-
ments about his supply of indigo seed, the main
stock of which came from this region or district.
There were idle spells between these intervals
of work, for ardent sportsmen though our youn
friends were, even they were fain to acknow -
edge that hunting in the jungles is work, and
that of the most exhausting and trying descrip-
tion.

Then they would roam idly through the
wilderness, noting and admiring the beautiful
parrots, which were to be found in great
variety, from the common green one, to the
gorgeous putsoagee, most brilliant of all feather-
ed creation. Other birds and (owls were there,
equally worthy notice, and watching these, with
the animals which inhabit the morwng, they
passed many an enjoyable if laz hour.

Near the middle of one day t eir siesta was
broken by an unusual commotion in the village,
and while they were lazily wondering what was
in the wind, Kolahala peered into their hut, his
eyesKsparkling as he saw that they Were awake.

“ ubber. sahibs—big khub er! ” he ex-
claimed, rubbing his hands together, the long,
sinewy fingers twining in and out with a snake-
like suppleness, a token that he was thoroughly
aroused, and his hunter-spirit fully awakened.

“ News of what?” yawned Lance, still drowsy.

Tersely enough the old shikaree gave them
the desired information. One of the villagers,
of the gwalla or cowherd cast, while watching
overasmall herd of cattle as they fed in the
ml fungle, that day, had been leaped upon and
bad y mauled by a tiger. Doubtless believing
him dead, the tiger killed a fat bullock and
carried it away, eaving the luckiess cowherd
to make his way to the village as best he
could. According to his story, there was never
seen a larger tiger than this one, and he be-
lieved it to be a fresh arrival, since there was
no record of such a monster having ever been
seen in that district before.

“To be divided into two parts, and one of
them swallowed with an e ual quantity of
salt,” muttered Burt, doubting y.

Keen-eared Kolahala caught the words, and
hastily retreating from the but, soon returned
with the cowherd himself, covered with blood
and dirt, scarce] able to stand.

“Let sahibs ookl” ,CI‘XEd Kolahala, hardly
waiting for the poor fellow to make his respect-
ful salaam before he whirled him around and
touched the scored back with the tip of his
fingers. “Dar track "of ole bagh. He no cub
dat scratch so wide. Plenty bigtosleep alone 1”

Directly between the broad shoulders of the
cowherd the attacking tiger had planted. its
foot, sinking the iong, curved claws deep Into
the flesh, then withdrawmg them Without tear-
ing, justas we have all seen a cat do With a
on two mouse.

he boys no longer doubted. Such clear

 

proof could not be laughed at. The largest
tiger they had as yet killed, was but little more
than a cub compared with the owner of that
monstrous paw.

“ I’m going to take that old fellow into camp
if it costs a legl” cried Burt, nodding his hea
until it seemed as though it must fly 03 his
neck. “ That will be worth talking about
when we get back home. He’s my meat, sure l”

“If one of us don’t get in the first shot,”
laughed Lance.

“Or he stops long enough in these parts,”
added Percy. “If a stranger here. he ma
be just passing through, and this khubber be 1
the information we’ll ever have of him."

“ Git ole bagh sure,” persisted Kolahala, nod.
ding his head in confident aflirmation. “He
stop to eat, den sleep, den eat rest all up, ’fore
he go off. Kolahala find where he leave meat.
It dar, Kolahala scare ofl little wa , while dem
make good mychau for sahibs, an den we git
him, sure I” _ - .

Colonel Applebee came in at this uucture,
and when he examined the traces le t b the
tiger on the person of the cowherd, in ad ition
to hearing his story, he was to the full as ea ei-
as Kolahala or any of the youngsters, to ng
the monster to bag.

Acting on information given by the gwalla,

m. w .K,

 

Kolohala went out to track the tiger to his I  .

present lair, while the sportsmen overhauled
their weapons and sorted out their ammuni-

tion.

“What did Kolahala mean by saying that
the native could build us a mychau ?” asked
Burt curiously, of the planter.

“ hat means a station in a tree-to , high
enough to be beyond reach.of a tigers lea ,

where the shooters can lie in wait near a ki l, «

to watch for the game to come along, for an-
other feed. I don’t favor them mush, for they
are more suited to feather-bed sportsmen than

honest workmen; but if the notion is correct 5

that this fellow is a stranger in these parts, and
only passing through, it may. be our only
chance. To-morrow he may be miles away,
and we could not organize for a regular beat be-
fore that time.”

Kolahala returned about the middle of the
afternoon, the bearer of glad tidings, as the
first glim se of his face tol his employers. He
had foun the remnant of the bullock killed b
the tiger, and fancied that a. patch of junglz
not far distant contained the marauder. A
careful scout confirmed this opinion, and confl.
dent that the ti er would not abandon the
ground until it ha finished the bullock, he has-
tened back to re rt, so that the myl'hau cOuld
be constructed efore the cool shades of even-
ing‘ aroused the tiger to activity and sus icion.

hou h_ scarcely probable, after the earty
meal w ich it had so recently eaten, it was
barely possible that the tiger might make an
attac on the natives while at work, and so the

sportsmen. went out with their riflesto guard . '

against this. ,
There is never a lack of trees in what is
known as a sol jun 1e, and Colonel Applebee
had no difliculty in selling favorable locations
[for two mychaus, each of which was not more

than twenty-five yards from where the belts ‘

 

 

 

 

 
  

26 I The Tiger Hunters.

 

patch of grass, tolerably well beaten down by
the tiger, and where the full moon promised
to cast a flood of light as soon as night set in.

In these trees stout and comfortable plat-

forms of limbs were constructed, with a railing
on all sides, to guard against any of the occu-
pants falling overboard through a careless
move, or in the excitement attendant upon the
tiger-shooting.

Furnished with blankets, to serve as a screen
from the cold dews, as well as a mask to hide

eaten carcass of the bullock lay, in a little { warning snort which caused the other pigs to

cease eating and crowd around with uneasy
grunts and whines. “ The tiger iscoming now 1"

Even as the words were spoken, the bushes
parted to permit the passage of a long, lithe
form which shot through them without a sound
or rustle, landing fairly in the midst of the pigs,
and scattering them with a double stroke, right

‘ and left of its terrible paws.

Even in that instant Burt felt strong disap-

s pomtment.

“That can’t be our game—it’s too small by

them from the eyes of the tiger, should he ‘. half, or else thoseclaw—markslied like thunder!”

choose to take a suspicion of their presence into i
' same instant. Instead of a giant of its kind,

his head before showing himself, provided with
rifles and an abundance of ammunition, the

four whites quietly left the village as the sun 1
sunk low, leaving strict orders behind that not I
a soul was to follow them before their firearms '

were heard, and were soon ensconced in their
ambushes.

: The colonel chose Burt to hear him company,
and gust before parting from the others he whis-
pere :

“ Remember, not a shot is to be fired save at
a tiger, and not even that until I give you the
word. We must make sure work of it at the
outset, or the old fellow will break away and
foil our hopes after all.”
It was tiresome waiting, even with the pros-
. set so favorable for big game to reward them
. in the end. Hour after hour crept by, and
scarce a sound broke the op ressive stillness.
The moon moved along unti the grass-patch
in which the remains of the bullock lay was
lighted up with almost the distinctness of noon-
day. A If the tiger would only come now—ha!
A crackling sound from the vloom beyond the
'v moonlight—a snapping of twigs, rustling of
' leaves—and the young hunters catch their
breaths, grasping their weapons more tightly as
they strain t eir eyes to catch the first glimpse
of the royal game—but not so the veteran
sportsman, after the first swift leaping of his
0

od.
, “ Too much noise for a tiger,” he muttered in
the egr of his nephew. “ See—only a sounder of
1 s.
nto the brifiht moonlight came a huge old
gray-tusker, fo owed by a core or more others,
the majority of them being small pigs, with an
old sow or two.

“ Too bad!" growled Burt, as the patriarch of
the sounder came to a halt, loudly sniffing the
air. “ They’ve smelt us, and they’ll raise such
a row that the old tiger will be scart 01!, sure as
shooting?”

“ Not so—it’s the meat theyr smell—see!” as
the boar walked straight to where the carcass
lay, and with a satisfied grunt plunged its long
muzzle into the open stomach, rending and

7' . grinding at the flesh and bones, while the igs,

squealing and fighting among themse ves,
‘ crowded around the carcass.

“ That noise will bring the old fellow out of
his lair, unless he has already left it and stolen
away ” said Colonel Applebee, in a tone of sat-
isfac on. “Lookl” he added, as the boar sud-

. denl planted its fore-legs on the carcass, with
\ ne uplifted tushes champing, bristles erect,
a: it stared off into the forest. then uttered a

_ I . ‘ .

 

His comrades made the same discovery at the

this tiger was a comparatively small one.
Surely it could not be the one they were after.

Fora moment there was a terrible uproar
below among the pigs. Two of their number
had been slain outright. and the tiger was lying
upon a third, 8. ton h old sow, which was strug-
gllijni,r to free itsel , squealing terrifically the
w 1 e.

As the tiger broke cover, the big gray-tusker
retreated in haste, but now, greatly to the
amazement of the lads, it gave vent to a fierce
whoof, and lowering its head, charged the tiger
most savagely.

Taken by surprise, the tiger could only half
arise to meet the assault. The blow which it
delivered was partly eluded, then the long fusks
of the boar were buried in its side, the shock
being so heavy that both aristocrat and plebeian
rolled over and over the ground, snarling,
grunting and fighting like veritable demons.

“ Hurrah for the old grunter!” cried Burt, so
excited and carried away by the strange duel,
that he forgot where he was, for the moment.
“Bet mvld boots on the pig, if only for his
plugkll" hoop-eel the cat’s got enough n1-
rea y

Such indeed apparently was the case. Be-
coming separated as they rolled over and over,
the tiger we first to regain his feet, and was
slinking away as though satisfied, when the
grim oléi tusker uttered a fierce challenge and
charge .

The tiger eluded the headlong rush by leaping
to one side, then whirled and pounced upon its
enemy, bringing it to the ground with a power-
ful stroke, but the pig was not yet conquered.
By some means it caught the fore paw of the
tiger in its mouth, and the hunters heard the
bones crack between its powerful jaws as the
tiger uttered a shrill scream of agony. With a.
desperate effort it tore itself loose and tried to
flee, but the boar plunged forward, and once
more they closed in a death-grapple, where the
ti er had all the advanta e. _

ut the gray-tusker ha already done its work
thoroughly. ‘

With entrails dragging on the ground, with
its sleek hide terribly gushed and tore, the tiger
died even as he fought; and then the victor with

difiiculty roso to its feet. legs wide-spread to sup- ,

port its failing form. One husky whoof of tri-
umph—one more savage stroke at the striped
carcass, then the gallant gray-tusker sunk down
dead. .
Almost immediately the survivors .of the
sounder came into the moonlight, grunting and

 

 

 

 

r- yaw awn-5w: r 

ma 

rid-swwa‘.“ M." r 

 

“U  . ,-.“, ,;

The Tiger Hunters.

" l

2'2

 

squealing as they sniffed _about the carcasses,
but their grief was not lasting. and five minutes
later they were once more fightlng over the
bloody carcass of the bullock.

“I’m afraid we’ve missed our game for to-
night, if not altogether,” said Colonel Applobee,
after waiting for a few minutes longer, “ If the
old tiger had not left the patch of Jungle to
which Kolahala tracked him, he would have

put in an appearance ere this, aroused by the ‘

racket.”

“Well, we can get even with those grunting
rascals anyhow, and the meat won’t spoil,” said
Burt, laughingly.

The planter called out to Lance and Percy,
bidding them‘select their mark, and then the
rifles opened a rapid fusilade.

Not until over two-thirds of their number
were killed did the pigs discover from whence
came the storm of death, and flee into the jun-
gle, almost running over a crowd of coolies
F'hotwere rushing to the spot, feeling sure of a

ens .

Theskin of the ti er was too badly cut up by
the sharp tusks of t e boar to be worth saving,
and followed by the de ected Kolahala, who
seemed to blame himsel for the failure where
nil had counted success certain, the little party
leturned to the village, where they were soon
buried in slumber. The disappointment did not
spoil their rest, at any rate.

 

CHAPTER XI.
m wrrcn-nocron.

“ BURT, you rascal, what have you done with
my shells'!’

“Percy you villain, where have you stowed
away my hollow-points?”

“And my belt, Lance? Not a shell left—”

“Boys, you blessed little angels, which one of
you got up hungry in the night, and ate up all
of my cartridges?” .

Almost simultaneously these queries burst
from the colonel and his young relatives, as they
groped around in the dim, gray light of dawn
which camethrouch the open door of their hut,
on the morning following their night-watch for
the big tiger. Their shell»helts were not where
they had left them on retiring, and each one
suspected some other of playing a clumsy prac-
iical joke, but as each one realized what the
others said, they ceased in their searchin and
stared blankly around. thoroughly puzzle .

“ Some one most have stolen them,” at length
declared Colonel Applebee. “But how, and for
what purpose?” I

Burt and Lance interchanged-awn glances.
the same suspicion appearing In the eyes of
or ch. Drawing near the door, they drew their
:evolvers, and closely inspected them.

“ They’re all right, anyway,” said Burt, with a
short laugh. “Reckon we can make it lively

or the p’izen heathen, if they try to come any
of their tricks on travelers—J

He stopped short as the planter burst into_a
hearty laugh. but there was a dogged_look m
I is eyes as Colonel'Applebee spoke, which told
that he was far from satisfied.

“Not that. my lad. I cannot imagine why
they were stolen, but I would pledge my head

that it was for no such reason as you boys sus~

l “Mebbe not-and then again, mebbe yes!
1 You can’t ’most always sometimes gen’rally tell,
‘ with these sorghum-colored heathen. The shells
are gone, and the cat didn’t eat ’em up, nor they
didn’t take legs of themselves, neither.”

“I admit the theft, but not the inference "
said the planter, quietly. “It is very provo -
ing, occurring just now, when an delay may
lose us that big tiger, but unless am greatly
mistaken, we will get our propert back again,
in ood condition, and the fashion in which that
is one, may be some compensation for your
losing our hunt this morning.”

“ Al the same, I’m going tokee all-two-both.
0’ my eyes peeled, and the ban will play a
right smart jig if the imps try to come any of
their skin-games on this chicken—now you hear
me talk I” muttered Burt, with a defiant nod of
his curly head, as the planter left the hut.

Before the breaking of day, Kolahala had
left the village for the spot where the two
mychaus were built, to learn what had become
of the big tiger, and the colonel and the boys
were to follow after him, as soon as it got light
enough for comfortable traveling through the
jungle. While waiting for the native who
served them as cook when Kolahala was other-
wise occupied, to prepare their breakfast, the
tiger—hunters set a out wiping out their rifles,
and getting a fresh supply of ammunition in
readiness. It was then that they made the
disagreeable discovery, that not onl had their
belts been emptied of cartridges, ut the re.
serve supply in tin cases, had mysteriously van-
ished during the night.

Burt and Lance, like all who have had much
to do with our own Indians, were naturally in-
clined to look on all copper-colored beings as
treacherous and evil-minded.

Colonel Ap lebee, better acquainted with the
Indians, he] a different opinion. He knew
that the natives had been deeply impressed
with the terrible effects of the explosive shells
and express bullets, begging such cases as were -

and treasuriug them as all-potent talisman.
He believed that some one of the villagers had
stolen the ammunition, hoping to keep it hidden
until the ri htful owners de arted, when he
could use it n his own gun, t ereby gaining a
reputation as a mighty hunter.

A few minutes after his leaving the but, a“
mighty uproar broke the morning stillness, and
the boys, pistols in band rushed forth believv
ing that their relative had been attacked by the
treacherous Nepaulese. Instead. they beheld
the planter approrching, with a smile upon his
handsome countenance. ' ' ‘

“ Save your powder for better game, boys," *
he laughed, but with a glowing light in his ‘
eyes that told how thoroughly be appreciated ”
, their devotion. “ I’ve been to see the witch-
doctor, and he has promised to find the thief
. for us. You heard his gong, just now? That
was to call out all the villagers. Bythe time
‘ we liege eaten breakfast, he will be ready for ‘
wor . ~.

Closely following the planter came the dusky '
cook. bearing an ample supply of smokingrhot

 

 

 

injured in firing too much to bear reloading, ; '-

 

 

 

 

 

the

 

86

 

vlands, and until he took his departure, the:

fioung tiger-hunters held their peace. Then

urt spoke:

business?”

The Tiger Hunters.

 

which bore traces of former splendor in the

r way of embroidery, but which was now sadly

“Something like the voudou doctors of your ‘

native land, yes. Every village has one or
more of them, and though, of course, their as-

sumption of _more than mortal powers, is a,

fraud of the first water, they often deceive
themselves in the course of time, and are impli-
citly believed in by their less favored fellows.

You think, then, that he will get back our ‘

ammunition?” asked Lance, doubtingly.

“Unless it was stolen by some one belonging
to another village. Or, if by a native here, the
thief may have taken the alarm and made his
escape. That would be proof of his guilt, though
it would be but little satisfaction to us.”

When the tiger-hunters left their hut, it was
to find the entire po ulation of the village
gathered in and aroun the cleared space which
was used in their feasts and other ceremonies,
awaiting their coming.

In the center stood the Ojah, or witch-doctor,
with all the curious implements of his still more
curious calling, a' tall, lean, sour—looking indi-
vidual, whom the youngsters did not remember
having ever seen before.

, ' 0n noting their approach, the head man of

the village, who was accountable for his actions
onl to the Zemindar, Bikram Jha. advanced
anti, led them to seats reserved for them.

,He seemed deeply mortified by the occur-
rence, bowin

and muttered to Percy in an under-

no:

. “ Blest if I don’t believe he stole ’em himself 1
He looks more like a. thief than any of the rest,
anyway.”

Short, fat and oleaginous was Majoor Singh,
the twarry, chief and most important ol.’ all
ayasth or caste of writers. Accountable
only to the Zemindar, serving him in collecting
all rents and tributes justly or unjustly due, the
writer is suspected by his master of cheating
him, is hated by the ryots whom he grinds into
the dust, and who deem it their bounden duty
to evade paying his demands when possible,
lying, for 'ng receipts, suborning false evidence
t at his
be wondered at that the putwarm/ becomes an
adept in all sorts of rascality the more especi-
allly when one point is considered.

ike _every other caste in India, that of put-
warru, or village accountant, is hereditary,

descending from father to son, as long as there 1

is a male member of the family to carry it on.
Should this tail, some other of the same caste is
elected-to the office by his fellows, and. as the
office changes hands,so do the secrets of the
trade, for good or evil, until the putwar'ry is,
whether rightfully or not, looked upon by all

and scraping and muttering his .
apologies unti honest Burt was thoroughly dis- I
te .

ues have been liquidated, it is not to 1

outside of his own caste as a rascal second in ‘

cunning only to his patron, the devil.
When the tiger-hunters were seated, the
ab, after respectfully saluting them, waved

‘ h bony hands as though commanding absolute
I silence. Instantly all was still as death.
The Ojah bowed his head overa Sanare cloth jaws working as though

\
. ‘\
v. -- V . .x

; worn and soiled. This be spread smoothly on
“A witch-doctor, you said? Sort of hoodoo

the ground, then arranged a number of articles
upon it, each in a particular position, after
mumbling over them some uncouth words
which none of the whites could exactly catch.

Among these articles were an unripe plan-
tain, a little horn cup of ghee, some rice, the
tooth of a rhinoceros, the thigh-bone of a tiger,
with several rudely carved idols in 'miniature.
Kneeling upon the edge of the carpet, the Ojah
shifted these articles from one embroidered
figure to another all the while muttering his in-
cantations and making strange motions with his
gaunt fingers.

So long was this continued, that Burt grew
tired, and was turning his head to conceal a
lazy yawn, when he beheld a sight that drew a
cry of wonder from his lips.

‘ Lookl somebody com lug—if it ain’t that fat
little cuss, the Baboon, I’m a nigger l”

The keen—eyed lad was ri ht. Bikram J ha,
mounted on his favorite elep ant, was just en-
tering the village, a broad smile on his fat coun-
tenance as he recognized the colonel and his
young companions. But this swiftly changed
as. he noted the Ojah, and learned from the
crmging putwarry how deeply interested in the
case were his honored guests.

Slipping to the ground, without waiting for
his elephant to kneel, or his attendant to lower
the silken ladder which he usually used, he took
up his position beside the planter and bade the
witch—doctor proceed.

“An insult offered to my guests is adouble
: insult to me, and it shall be wiped out, even if I
l have to flog every man, woman and child in the
.village with my own handl” he declared, his
usually sleepy, good humored countenance light-
ed up with a. fierce indignation.

The Ojah wasted but little more time in his
incantations after this, but first making sure
that not a soul was missing from the commu-
nity, he produced a bag of rice, and passing
around t e circle, gave each member a. small
quantity, each one holding it exposed in his
hand until the rest were served.

The Ojah was about giving the signal, when
the Baboo abruptly checked him, saying:

“There are still three whom you have for~
gotten to serve,” touching his own breast, then
I pointing to the putwarry and finally to the
witch-doctor himself. “ There must be no
chance neglected. Do your duty.”

“Us too,” put in the irreverent Burt, holding
out his hand. “ Mebbe some of us got up in our
sleep and swallowed the shells. Anyway, we
want a show too.”

Without the ghost of a smile the Ojah served
them all, then made a signal, throwing back his
head and dropping the dry grains into his
his mouth.

The lads hesitated, not knowing just what
they were expected to do, but the colonel hasti-
ly whispered:

“Chew away on the rice as the rest are do-
ing. If your grist comes out dry ou’ll catch it!"

It was a ludicrous sight to see t e entire party
munching away at the hard grains, each pair of

 

 

 

tor a wager, every

 

, , A“... m

 

 

, W” 

«W  W._.T.:NV_A._._-. 4. ‘

1

The Tiger Hunters. ' — L 29

 

face. save those of the mirth-convulsed boys,
grave and even anxious. _

Then the witch-doctor made another signal,
at the same time spitting into his hand the rice
which he had chewed to a pulp. Like automa-
tons moved by the same string, the others fol-
lowed suit, with one exception. The putwarry
opened his mouth with the rest, but only a dry
powder fell therefrom, and a yell of angry sur-
prise burst from the lungs of Bikram Jha as he
leaped forward and caught the medal by the
throat.

“It is you, then, dog and son of a dog! that
has put this shame upon me? Ah—hal I will
tear your vile heart out!”

It seemed as though he would put his fierce
threat into execution, then and there, only Col-
onel Applebee caught him by the arm and
forCed him to release his gasping victim.

“ Peace, my dear friend,” he said gravely.
“ There may be some mistake—there must be!
“ Surely he would not steal our propertyl What
inducement could he have?”

“ Seal” and the Baboo pointed to the dry
powder which still clugg to the lips of the put-
worry.
never liesl He is the thiet'l”

Ridiculous as it may a pear, this ordeal,
called C'howl Ohipao, rare y fails when at-
tempted. The superstitious native is frightened

'by the strange incantations of the Ojah, and

though he hopes against hope, chewing his rice
furiously, the salivary glands refuse to work,
and he is betrayed by his own fears. More en-
lightened though he was, the putwar'ry was
awed by the presence of his superior, and the re-
sult was as stated.

Terror-stricken, he made full confession. He
stole the shells and express cartridges, feeling
confident that he would not be suspected. thanks
to his high position, and not anticipating the
visit of Bikram Jha, he bade the witch-doctor
use his arts to discover the thief. He had no
idea of undergoing the ordeal himself, though
there is little doubt but what he could have
done so without betraying his guilt only for the
presence of the Zemiiidar.

When all tests should fail in discovering the
thief, he would keep the stolen property until
the rightful owners took their departure, and
the deed was forgotten, when he would turn a
pretty penny for himself by selling the shells to
ambitious native hunters. _

From fierce rage, Bikram J ha calmed down
to a stern calmness that was even more danger-
ous, and when Majoor Singh had made full con~
fession, he turned from the trembling, cringin
wretch, and bade his attendants bring forwar
his ele hant.

“ at do you mean to do?” demanded Col-
onel Applebee. as be grasped the Baboo’s arm.

“He has stolen—and from my honored guests.
He must be punished as such a black crime de-
serves,” said the Zemindar, sternly. “ He shall
be trampled to death—” .

“ Punish him, if you like, but not that we ,”
said the planter, with equal deciswn. ‘ It
would be a brutal murder, and I will not stand
by as a witness. Order your elephant back, or
gel 1will ,come tohis death. And even worse may

0 ow.

 

“ The Chowl hipao has spoken, and it'

 

Quick as thought the three lads ranged them-
selves nlongside the planter, with hands on their
revolvers. The Baboo rightly interpreted the
action, and gravely bowed his head.

“ Your wish is a command. The dog shall have
his irif’e, but he must not wholly escape punish-
men I. ’

“That is as ou sa ” and the colonel
the hand of tligBabog,with a. frank smilgr€§§g
doubt the fellow deserves all you can give him
but in my opinion he would suffer more if yod
dealt out a sentence that would cover him with
ridicule, and degrade him in the eyes of those
over whom he has lorded it so long.”

As the planter spoke, a smile gradually over-
ipread thghbiéolnd coungenance of the Baboo, and

nowmg a iis oin was ained Co one ~
plehee fell back. p g ’ 1 IAP

A few minutes later, the Baboo visited them
at the hut. accompanied by an attendant hear-
ing the stolen goods, which the wretched put-
warry had restored intact.

Koluhala had not yet returned, and knowing
that they could do nothing until he came to re-
port, the tiger-hunters made no further move-

The Baboo explained his unexpected appear-
ance. He had recovered from the in uries in-
flicted by the tiger on the night of t e feast,
and started long before day to rejoin his guests,
to invite their participation in a grand hunt

which several of the Zemindars had projected, . .

and which was to extend over a. period of two
weeks.

While he was speaking, the lads, Burt in par-
ticular, moved where they were out of the
Baboo’s si ht. and vigorously expressed their
disapprova of the project in pantomime. They
had had their fill of hunting on elephants, for
the time being, at least.

A still better excuse had the lanter for de-
clining the proffered honor. a had already
spent as much time as he could well afford to
spare from his business, and as soon as they could
bringthe big tiger to bag, they must return home.

The Baboo seemed greatly disappointed, but .r
accepted the situation gracefully, and then, with
a twinkle of fun in his little oblique eyes, invited '
them to take a little stroll in his company.

Readily divining ,his object, the tiger-hun-
ters accompanied him, and on reaching the spot
where the witch-doctor had performed his in-
cantations, they halted with a burst of laughter
which none of them could control.

The suggestion made by the planter had been
put into execution, and there was the portly
putwa'rry, suflering a punishment far worse
than death in his own estimation.

A rough linot of wood had been placed at the
foot of the lone tree which stood in the center
of the clearing, and the putwarry, stripped to
the buff, was forced to plant his hmhead upon
this, then elevate his feet until the were sup-
ported against the tree trunk. ver him, as
guard, stood a smewy cowherd, armed with a
whip of rhinoceros-hide.

As the degraded utwarry saw the tiger.
hunters, and. heard t eir merry lau hter at his
ridiculous plight, he uttered is ours ng bowl of

shame and rage, at the same time dropping his

feet to the ground, as though about to flee.

But swift as light the whip of the awalla. came

u

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   
 
 
 
 
  

30 The Tiger Hunters.

 

into play, bringing the blood with each touch of
the horn-like cracker, and with his howl of rage
changed to a yell of pain, the putwur'ry nimbly
resumed hls former position, closing his eyes
and grinding his teeth savagely.

The planter suggested that the poor devil had
suffered enough, but on this pomt the Baboo
was not to be moved, and the luckless wretch
was left in his uncomfortable position when the
fiigler—hunters retired to hear the report of Kola—

a a.

This was far from being satisfactory. He had
tracked the tiger from the jungle, several miles
away. in a direct line, only to lose the Spoor at
last. To all appearance, the animal had left
that district for good, thouah the shikaree had
not yet givan up all hopes o finding him, having
only returned lest his,employers should grow
annous at his prolonged stay.

CHAPTER XII.
AN AQUATIC ENCOUNTER.
“ WELL, you fellows may See a heap 0’ fun in
this sort 0’ thing, but a mighty little of it goes

 

.a powerful long way with me,” said Burt Apple-

bee, on the day after the exposure of the thiev-
in twarry, givin a lazy yawn as he spoke.

_ olahala was. stil absent, trying to track
down the big tiger, and not raring to enter into
anythin that would take them out of the way
of spec y communication, in case the veteran
shikaree should return with good news, Colonel
Applebee and the boys, tired of staying at the
village, resolved to pass the day in fishing, visit-
ing a broad bend in the neighboring stream for

that purpose.

A couple of flat-bottomed boats were fur-
nished by the natives, and with a mullah, or

' fisherman, in charge of each, for the hot sun and

sultry atmosphere made anything like labor all
but agreeable to the whites.

The boats were anchored some distance apart,
though still within speaking distance, the plant-

' er and Lance in one, while Burt and Percy oc-

cupied the other.
he fish were biting freely, and to one who

' loved the sport there was plenty of amusement

in it.

For a while eVen Burt, who was no fisherman,
felt no little interest in the curious creatures
which were hauled in rapid succession from the
water, many of them being wholly unlike any
of the finny tribe of his own country. In some
he could trace a resemblance—the bhowar'ry

. reminded him of the ravenous pike; the rayho,

or Indian salmon, with its small, round, flexible
month, has its prototype in our sucker, or
bufilalo-fish; while the pachygutchea, with its

7 . vail't et stealthy darting upon its prey, as well

as its ong, well-armed jaws, recalled the gar of
western water;

Yet this very resemblance which he saw—or
fancied he saw—still more strongly recalled the
distant home which was daily growing more
dear to his memory, and for the time being
Burtis Applebee was a very homesick lad.

Then it was that he flung down his rod, with-
out taking the trouble to unhook his last fish,
and uttered the words recorded above.

Little attention was paid to him by the others.
The Sport possessed stronger attractions for

 

them, and they continued to pull in the rapidly
biting fish, until a loud cry from the lad start-
led them.

“ Holy Moses! look yonder—what a cat 1”

From the high, bush~fringed bank of the
river, an enormous animal leaped into the
water, and even through the shower of spray,
the fishermen could distinguish the peculiar
markings of atiger, and could see that it was
swimming rapidly toward the boat occupied by
Burt and Percy.

Like most of the feline race, the tiger has no
particular passion for the water, though it is a
rapid and owerful swimmer whenever 116(85-
sity compe s; but for one to take such a. head—
long plunge and press on direct in the face or"
an enemy of whom they are ordinarily quite
willing to fight shy, as now, argued one of two
things—the tiger was either hard pressed by
eneuligies, or else was savagely bent on running
amo .

Colonel Applehee at once realized this, and
uttered a warning shout, but the boys did not
appear to hear him. ,

“ Hurray for some fun l” shouted Burt, whip-
ping forth a revolver, their rifles having been
eft at the village as being more likely to prove
an incumbrance than of any service on such a
short excursion as this. “Better s ort than
hunting ’em on a two-tailed rat— ere, you
tafiy-colored son-of-a-gun l what are you doing :”

The mullah, shaking like a leaf with terror,
had grasped his paddle and was urging the
boat away from the ugly-looking customer, but
Burt angrily whirled upon him, and in the
struggle which followed, the paddle was
dropped overboard and swept away by the
current beyond reach.

“Try that again, and I’ll chaw you up worse
than any cat, old fellow!” cried the lad, releas-
ing the native, and turning once more toward
the approaching animal.

His first shots, together with those fired by
Lance and Percy had some of them taken
effect, but instead of cowing the tiger, hrs
wounds seemed to but increase his fury, and on
he came, growling, snarling and showing his
teeth. Clearly he meant mischief, and for the
first time Burt began to suspect that perhaps
the old mullah was right in trying to flee. But
it was too late to think of that now, and as fast

ball at the rising-and falling head of the huge
creature.

The waves caused by the plunge of the tiger
into the river had reached the boat in advance,
and these with the brief but fierce struggle
which ended in the loss of the paddle, caused
the boat to rock so much that nearly every bul-
let went astray, while those which struck. the
tiger only served to renderit all the more furious.

Colonel Applebee, realizing the deadly peril
which threatened his son and ne hew, cut the
anchor of his boat free, and ha e the mullah
hasten up-stream to the rescue, but instead of
obeying, the terror-stricken wretch plunged
:Ifitolthei’ river, diving deep and swrmmmg tor

e an

His cowardice was swiftly rewarded. The
double splash in the water, aroused the slumber-

 

ing crocodiles, and almost instantly the surface

I\ . .
\ ‘ L  If" i? l, - Q; i . 1",: v   ‘ fie} «xvi

 

as he could work his weapons, he sent ball after 7

“$0 1"


 '

 

 

,V, "'V\

l

The Tiger Hunters.

   

 

of the river was broken by their protruding
mouts. One glance seemed to show them the
situation, and then they darted forward, ome
attacking the ti er, others splashing around the
boat uttering t eir deep, ominous bellowings,
While above all the din arose a single scream—
one full of horror and agony—and the fugitive
mullah flung aloft his arms, then sunk forever,
dyeing the muddy waters red With the life-
b ood which spurted from the severed veins.

The tiger tore itself loose from the crocodiles,
and by a vigorous dash, gained the side of the
boat occupied by Burt and Percy, throwing its
fore aws over the edge and striving to enter,
seemingly cowed by the wounds it had received
in the unequal fight, but the boys strongly ob-
jected to this.

The weight of the tiger threatened to over-
turn the boat. Already it was dipping water.
On every side were the crocodiles, their clash-
ing jaws and thrashing tails threatening all
with death, should that catastrophe occur.

Thinking only of beating of! the tiger. too
excusedto see that they were only precipitating
the catastro be which they most desired to
avoid, both urt and Percy pressed forward,
and their pistols being empty, they struck at
the monster with their knives.

A furious roar—a fierce struggle—then the
frail boat was overturned, casting» the young-
sters into the water, almost on top of the tiger,
and in the Very midst of the crocodiles, to what
seemed certain death.

The choking cry of a strongman in agony,
none the less bitter from its being mental, then
Colonel A plebee urged his boat into the midst
of the me ee, dropping the paddle and gras ing
Percy, who chanced to be the nearest im
while Lance caught Burt by the collar and
strove to drag him into the boat. At that mo-
ment a sharp cry broke from the lad’s hps, and
he was almost torn from his brother’s grasp as
a Crocodile closed its ugly Jaws upon one leg. _

Evan as he uttered that cry, Burt turned his
body, and with a. steady hand drove his knife
i..to one of the fishy eyes so forcibly that the
brain was reached, and the reptile With a be]-
low of pain, released its hold and floundered

away.

The next instant Burt was lifted into the
boat, which was urged toward the shore. The
water was almost running in over the sides, so
greatly overloaded was it, and death still
threatened the inmates,

Colonel Applebee at the earliest possible mo-
ment devoted his attention to Burt, who was
bleeding i'apidlg troni a frightful—looking wound
in the left ting - Percy W138 sent to the village
for aid, while the planter improvised a. tourni-
quet, by means of which the hemorrhage was
temporarily checked-

Once at the Villaqu the Wound was cleansed,
the severed arteries taken Inland tied, the hurt
dressed. Burt looked lnqmFIDEIY into the face
of his uncle, who nodded With a grave
he answered the uDBPOken quesmoni

smile  very

“ We’ll fetch you around all right if you only
keep quiet and obey orders. And we’ll save 5;
that leg for you, too.” ‘

Burt was satisfied, and feeling faint from loss ' a
of blood, he closed his eyes. To all appemnce 
he was asleep when olahala returned from
his scout, and on learning what had happened v
to his favorite. stole in to See him. But see.
drop of something hot and wet fell upon-his
cheek Burt opened his e as with a. faint smile, , 
and still fainter voice, as e said:

“ You’d ought to been along, old fellow. We
got your big cat-dots 0’ fun, too. That’s the A
way—we do—in good old America—ameni” -‘

 

CHAPTER XIII.
AMERICA roanvnn.

THERE is little more to add before we draw
the curtain on this passage in the lives of the
young tiger-hunters. , 

After events fully justified the prediction ‘
of Colonel Applebee that Burt would recover ' 
from his wounds, though it was many a long
and wearisome day before that fact could be '
said to be accomplished. -

For a couple of weeks Burt languished in that -\
dreary little village; then the planter yielded to
his solicitations, and, swung in a litter, the ‘
wounded lad was home by easy stages back to
the indigo-factory. Once there he steadily im-
proved, and in another month was able to hob-

le about the premises, taking no little interest *
in the working of the roperty, though he still . .
had occasional attac is of homesickness and '
lon 'ngs for far-away America. .

any a long and serious talk he held with his
uncle, who ut the case fairly before him,
then h each nterview but served to convince ' ‘
the p enter of the vanity of the hopes he had in. " ‘
dulged in. Neither Burt nor Lance could ever
feel contented to Settle down as indigo-manii-v
facturers. But these long talks were not with-
out good results. Fonder than ever the planter
grew of his young relatives. and when the year
of pil'obation was at an end he made them a pre- .
pose :

“Hold your final decision in reserve for ycl \'
another year. Percy and I will go back to
America with you, and take our turn. '

“If you are still in the same mind at the end of
the year, and feel that you cannot leave Ameri-
ca for India, then—well, I’ll make no rash proni- v
ises. But it may be—may be, I say—that we,
will sell out here and settle down to learn your
trade instead of your learning ours I” Q .~'.

His further speech was checked by four lusty"
arms which became entangled about his neck: ‘
but then, as soon as their transports subsided; a
little, Burt said, laughingly: ' -

“ And then we’ll show you how we do things
in good old Colorado.”

And the boy reader may rest assured that the 5'
young jungle hunters kept their word to  I

e .

 

 

    
  
   
  
    

tter.

 

THEM).

 

 

 

 

1 Deerhnnter, the Boy Scout | i the Grant North Woods.
By 011 Cooines.

2 Bufl'stlo Bill, from Boyhood to Manhood. By Col. Pren-
i-lsn Inizrnhnm. V

3 Kit Carson, King ofGnldes. ByAlhert w. Aiken.

'4 Gortlon'illllle, the Boy-Interpreter“ the innees. By
Blujnr. H. B. Stoddard.

5 Brui 1| Adams, 01d Grizzly’s Boy Pnrd. By Col.

l’ru..tiss Ingrnhnni.
6 Deadwood Dick us nBoy. By Edward L. Wheeler.
7 WIld Bill, the Pistol Prime. By Col. P. Ingrnhnm.
8 The Prairie Ranch. By Joseph E, Bmiger, Jr.
9 Roving Joe; The History of a. “ Border Boy.” By A.
H. Post.
10 Texas Jack, the Mustang King. By Col. Ringrsham.

ll Charley Skylark. A Story of School-tiny Scrapes and
College Cnpnrs. By Mnjor H. B. Stoddard.

12 Muriposu Marsh. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

13 Roving Ben. By John J. Marshnll.

14 ‘Spring Steel, King oi the Bush. By J. E. Badger, Jr.

15 Wide-A wake George, the Boy Pioneer. By Edward
Willa“.

16 The Boy W’izard. By Barry Ringgnld.

1‘? Peter Pepper runs the Greenhurn from Gotham. B
Noull Nuti'. g ’ y

18 Adrift on the Prairie. nnvi Amuteur Hunters
ms tlse Buifulo Russge. By 011 Canines.

19 The Fortune Hunter; or, Roving Jno as Miner,
Cowboy, Trnppcr and Hunter. By A. H. Post.

20 ‘Trupper Tom, the Wood Imp. By T. C. Hm-bnugh.

21 Yellow llnlr. the Boy Chief of the innees. By Col.
Prentiss Ingrnham.

’29 The Snow Trail. By T. C. Hnrbnngh.
83 Old Grizzly Adams, the Busr Tuuner. By Dr. Frank

'Dwell.
' 24 Woods and Waters. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.

25 A Rolling- Stone: Incidents in the Cnreor on SI-nnnrl
Lnnd ni Col. Prentiss ingraham. By Win. R. Eyster.

26 Red River Rovers. By C. Dunning Clank.

2’? Plaza nnd Plain; or, Wild Adi-minim: of“llnolukln
Saul.” (Maj. Sam. 5. Hall.) By Col. 1’. ingrnhnm.

98 The Sword l’rinee. 'l‘he Romantin Life of Col. Mon-
siery. liy Capt. Frederick Whittiker.

29 Snow-Shoe Tom. By ’1‘. C. Ilarhnugh.

80 Paul (le Lucy, the French Ben-i. Charmer. By C.
Dunning Chir .

31 Round the Camp Fire. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

89 White lienver, the Indian Medlcine Chief. By Cal.
Phillis! ingrnhnm.

83 The Boy Crusader. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.‘

84 The Chase oi’ the Great White Stun, snd,.Camp
and Cuuoe. By C. Dunning Clark.

.85 Old Tar Knuckle nnd llis Boy Chums.
Roger Sinrbuclt.

The Dushln Dragoon ; or, The Story of Gen. Goorze
A. Cusiur. y Capt. Frod. Whittaker.

82' Night-Hawk George.
38 The Boy Exiles of Siberia. By T. C. Harbnugh.
$9 The Young Bear Hunters. By Morris Redwing.
. 40 Smart 51..., the Lad with s Level Head. By Edward
' ' Wlllattu

By
36

By Col. Prentiss Ingrshnm.

" 4.1 {use Settler’s Son. By Edwsrd 5. Ellis.
'  Walt Ferguson's Cruise. By C. Dnn’ning Clair.

 

43 Rifle and Revolver. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.
44 The Lost. Boy Whnlers. By T. C. Harbnngh.
45 Branro Billy, the Saddle Prince.

lngrulnnn.
46 Diek, the Stowaway. By Charles Morris.

4’? The Colorado Boys: or, Life on on Indigo Plantation.
By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

48 The Pomona Hunters; or, New York Boys in
' Buenos Ayres. By T. C. Herbsugh.

49 The Adventurous Life of Nebraska' Charlie.
By Col. Prentiss Ingrohnm. '

By Col. Prentiss

50‘Juek Hurry nndTom the Three Ch 1 B tli .
By Capt. FrdeWhittsykei'. “mp on m "I

51 The Young Lend-Lubber. By C. D. Clark.
52 The Boy Detectives. By T. C. Harbnugh.

58 Honest “arr or The Conntr B Ad in ‘ th
City. By Chnrezlldorris. y W r m u

54 Cnili‘ornia Joe, the Mystsrlous Ploinsnisn. By Col.
Prentiss Ingrohnm.

55 Tip Tressel, the Flo-tor. By Edward Wiliett.

56 The Snow Hunters; or, Winter in the Woods. By
Berry (in Forrest.

5’? Harry Somers, the Sailor Boy Msgicisn.
Pearce.

By S. .W.
s-

58 The Adventurous Life of Ca tnln
Border Boy. By Col. Frontier: Ingra min.

59 Lmne Tim, the Mule Boy olitlm Mines.
Morris.

Jack, the
By Charles .
60 The Youn Trail Hunters: or, New York Boys in

Grluly Lnn' . By '1'. C. Hnrbmxgh.

61 The Ti er Hunters or The Colorado 13 i E] .
pliant Lind. By JOIepli E.-i3ndger, Jr. 0y! n e

62 Doctor Carver, the “ Evil Spirit ” of the Plnlnl.
Col. Prentiss ingrshsm.

68 Black Horse Bill, the Bandit Wrecker.
Sierbuck.

64 Youn Diek 'l‘ulbot: or, A Boy’s Rough nmi 'l‘umhle
Fight I‘Olli New York to Californlsu By A. W. Aiken.

65 The Roy Pilot; or,’1‘ho Island Wrsokor. By Col.
Prentiss inizrnhnm. .

By

By Roger

66 The Desert “over; or, Sto'wawsy Dick Among the
Aruhs. liy Charles Morris.

6'? Texas Charlie, the Boy Ranger. By Col. Prentiss
lngmham.

68 Little Rifle ; or, The Young Fur Hunters. By Cnplnin
” Bruin ” Adams. .

69 TheYOlfls Nihilist o AstkesBo A u,
Russians. gy Clinrlss blur: s. y “‘01); a

70 P the Cowbo or The‘Yonn Msrnh ll; Raid.
Wilda? H. B. Shh. srd,’Ex-Scout. g a I

71 Ruff Robsurt and His Bear. By Captain “ Bruin "
Adsms.

Bendle’s Boy’s Library is for sale by all Newsdeslsrs,
five tents per copy, or sent by msll on receipt ofsix unis “ch.

9 " ransom: AND ADAMS, Publishers, '
98 William: Street, New York.