The Jaws Of Death

Buchapore is a quaint, isolated little place, situated in that portion of Iter Britannic Majesty's Eastern dominions known as Bengal proper, tt is gariisoned by a solitary regiment of irregular cavalry, possessirig also a civil surgeon, a collector or junior magistrate, and a missionary. Being quite out of the beaten track, it is naturally the quintessence of dullness and the abode of the foul flnd ennui. Three years in this benighted spot are almost équivalent to sojourning for the saine period on a desert isle, and any regiment ttnder such a ban is always cordially eommiserated. To this unblessed región it was my bad fortune to return aïter two years' f urlough. Myleave had been spent in the very heart of civilization, partly on the Continent, and partly in our own tight little island. The contrast between the life I had led and that in prospeot nearly drove me to despair. There was but one faint gleam of hope. My friend Jack carrington, an enthusiastic sportsman, wrole that it was a splendid shooting country. Jack, who was the laziest beggar aiive, would never have troubled himself to put pen to paper but for tbat potent lever which rarely fails to move men's minds - to wit, self-interest. He wanted a rifle and a supply of ammunition, which he asked me to buy and bring out. I did as requested, taking care to stock myseli pretty oompletely at the same time. We never talk of winter in the plains of India, but luekily it was the middle of the cold weather when I arrived, so my journey was pleasantly cool. The last eighty miles were traversed in a doolie - palanquín. I reached the outskirts of Buchapore at about 5 a. m. My first impressions of the place were decidedly favorable. Instead of an arid waste, with nothiLg ta break its blank monotony save here and there a stunted tree or sickly briar, and occasionally the washed grava of an ancient Mussulman, with perchance i at long intervals a tope - plantation of mango trees1, I found myself jogging steadily along the banks of a wide river, the cry stal waters of which, especially inviting to one weary and travel-stained, tempted me to bathe ia their cool depths. The pearly heayens welcomed the rising sun with a faint blush. A soft blue haze in the far distance presently resolved itself into a range of low hills. Trees full of bud and blossom were planted at regular intervals by the wayside, affording pleasant shade, and scenting the air with their sweetness. Amongst them in abundance was the babool - acacia - the fragrant flowers of which resemble a tiny ball of golden moss, and are so faithf ully and untiringly copied by the jewelers of fameus Delhi. The path was carpeted with thick, soft turf, and from amidst its rich green peeped timidly myriads of small wild lowers. " Come," said I, "give a dog abad name and hang him. Buchapore is belied. At all events I shall flnd some pretty bits for my sketch-book. Hi I" - to the doolie bearers - " how far are we from the station now?" "About three miles," was the re sponse - of course in the vernacular. In about another half hour I was landed at the door of our mess, where I met with a cordial greeting from my old brothers in arms. Travelers by the ancient and honorable method of palanquín dak - post - are obliged to content themselves with as little baggage as possible. What they dojÉake is packed in boxes of various shapes and sizes, which are placed in wooden frames to avoid breakage, and called pitarahs. Tiiese are slung one to each end of a long pole, and carried across a man's shoulders, after the 'ashiou of milk-pails, and called bhanghy. Bound to these restrictions, [ was forced to leave my heavy baggage at the nearest line of rail, to be forwarded by bullock-cart. Now Indian bullocks - albeit very useful animáis in their way- will not for any consideration whatever perform more than a stated disiance per day. They may be tempte j with the choicest food, beaten and tricked, but, lean or fat, they will not budge when once they have performed their usual task. Knowing this, Jack and I anxiously counted the days which must elapse before the arrival of our much-coveted shooting material. "If our blessed gunswere onlyhere," said Jack, ruefully, "we might have gone after a tiger that killed one of our unfortunate grass-cutters the other day. Bad scran to him ! I dare say we shall get him some day, but unhappily we shall never know it." At last my luggage made its appearanoe, nnharmed. Jack praised my choice of weapons, and was enraptured with a brace of Derringers which I raesented to him. These little pistola 'are small enougli to slip with ease into an ordinary coafc-pocket, although they carry a full-sized cartridge, and are deadly at anything like close auarters. Jack and I were like two children over our new toys, and could scarcely persuade ourselves to lay them down, 'much less trust them out of sight. They were exhibited at mess, and duly admired. Every one was eager to try them; and so highly were they appreciated that the outgoing mail took liome orders for a pair from eaoh officer of the regiment. We now set to work in earnest to find a tiger, which in that neighborhood was a matter of small dilïiculty. Word was soon brought that a trage beaet, snpposed to be the idéntica! brute that had killed our poor grass-cutter could be heard of in a ra vine. The intelligenoe rejoiced our hearts. At the time of whieh I write the irregular cavalry were allowed to do irregular things ocoasionally, and our fellows at tbat period thought it expedient to keep a hunting elephant. Old Luohme - such was its name - was instantly ordered to prepare for action; and, having arranged everything with the foresight of old stagers, and ordered a hapless goat to bé tied out as a decoy, we retired to rest one evening fully confident of meeting our deadly foe in a few hours. We started about 2:30 a. m., intending to reach our rendezvous with his royal highness a little before daybreak, and foroe him to atone for bis depredations as he went down to drink af ter gorging on the luokless goat. We each pocketed one small pietol, handing its fellow to the friends who accompanied us. They were our commanding officer, Col. Meredith, and - don't be shocked- his daughter. Miss Meredith had not long arrived in the country. Our regiment was to spend only one more year at BunhaporS, during which time the yoling lady was to have ïemained in Êngland, but'the aunt with whom she lived died suddenly, and scarcely knowing what else to do, Col. Meredith decided to have his daughtei out to India im media tely. Buchapore was not rich in femihine scciety. Beside Miss Meredith, we had only tfie ponderous civil surgeon's chattering " better half" - an abominable woman, whose magpie tongue did more mischief in a day than she or anybody eise coala undo in a twelvemonth - and Mrs. Vane, our popular Adjutant's fasoinating little wife, on whom naturally devolved the care of Miss Meredith when she needed a chaperon. A very sweet and charming little person was Miss Jïellie Meredith ; but determined withal. Selfish she was not ; dauntless and impulsivo she as certainly was ; with that firm belief in her own power of overcoming difficulties which arises either from constant success or from inexperience. The girl had set her heart on seeing a tiger-hunt before she left Buchaporo, and in a weak moment the Colonel promised that her wish should be gratifled. Although Jack and I meant work, we could not well object to Miss Mefedith's company. The Oolonel was a dashing soldier, still in his prime, and deservedI ly popular. Besides being an old shikj aree of established repute, his advice I was most acceptable ; and we feit sure i that he would run no unnecesswy risks while his daughter was with him. Well armed, with a trusty elephant, we i fearcd no danger ; ruoreöver, there was but one lady, and she - men are but mortals - was very pretty. Such a sweet, saucy, naive face ! The delicate features and large almondshaped eyes seemed capable of every varietyof expression. Her dark-brown hair, tied carelessly back with dainty ribbons, rippled in thick waves below a waist round and supple as Hebe's own. Her feet and hands were of the smallest; her voice was of the sweetest. Still, the girl's principal charm lay in her simple, unaffeuted marnier, and the small opinión which, in sjr ite of her way wardness, she entertained of herself and her abüities. Bright, sparkling, full of fire and naivete, she was not coquettish, altnough an ordinary observer might have misjudged her in this respect. Nellie Meredith had no petty meannesses. Hers was a frank, noble nature, containing the promise of great things to come. We all liked the girl, and took pleasure in her society, as men do in that of a clever, pretty girl, who can make herseli agreeable, neither falling violently in love herself, nor expecting everv man she meets to fall in love with her, as is an unfortunate weakness with some giris of the period. Carrington, however, was "hard hit," and, under the circumstances, I did not object to Miss Meredith's society. We should have preferred making up a larger party, but, as there was only one elephant, this was impossible. Mrs. Vane was thus prevented joining us, which she would otherwise gladly have done. It was broad moonlight when we started, and, to the mind of a simple English girl freshly arrived in the country, there must have been something strangely weird and romantic in the scène. The elephant marched majestically through the thick jungle of waving feather-grass from eight to ten feet high. Heavily she tramped it down before her, picking her way daintily for so huge a creature, in obedience to the whispered commands of the mahout. We were all well wrapped up, for the air was keen and chilíy, but our faces were distinctly visible in the pale, cold light. Talking was forbidden; and, to do our lady-hunter justice, she might have been born dumb, so strictly mute was she. At a quarter to 5 we arrived at the ravine, and found the goat missing, but no sign of the tiger. There were, however, spots of fresh blood along a rougn path down the side of the ravine, where evidently the animal had recently passed, carrying his prey with liim, One of our native beaters, who from long training understood the customary maneuvers of such animáis, crept down the path, and presently returned to say that a tiger and tigress were both in the cave, apparently breakfasting on the goat's carcass. We immediately settled our plan of operations, and ordered the shikaree to lire kis piece into the cave, to apprise the royal pair of our approach. Carrington and I hastily climbed a couple of large trees overlooking each side of the ravine. Oolonel and Miss Meredith, on Luchme, were safely posted out of harm's way, where they could command a good view of the aniinal's movements, and where also the Oolonel's rifle might teil with good effect should Jack and I fail to give either of the brutea its quietus. It was now broad daylight, although the sun had not yet risen. This was fortúnate, as we could see much better, and there was less chance of our prey escaping. Bang ! bang ! went tho shikaroe's piece into the cave, and immediately out sprang a royal Bengal tiger into the center of the ravine. A right royal beast was he, nothing but princely blood ran in his veins. A truc king of the forest he looked, as he stood there lashing his sides with his tail, with a roar like tt ander, his eyes flashing rage and defiance, his head turned eagerly from side to side in search of his enemies. He meauured, at least, twelve feet from nose to teil, and wae beautifully marked. The shikaree fired from a large tree, and was completely bidden in the midst of its thick foliage. We had agreed that Carrington shoiüd flre tirst ; so, after a few seconds spent in sincere admiration of our enemy, bang went Jack's rifle. The tiger staggered, gave one bound into the air, and with a hideous yell feil mortally wouncled. At tuis instant the tigress appeared. I aimed at her, but, my trigger catching in a branoh, the shot failed. Carrington hastily let fly his seoond barrel, but, being in tod great a hurry, and possibly rather excited, lie also missed, and the tigress bounded up ihe side of the ravine ; meanwhile, I had put my seeond shot into the tiger, who now lay lifeless. The tigress fled straight toward the jungle, passing old Luehme unawares, then iurned suddenly, perhaps to meet her mate, and, facing the plucky old elephant, charged straight at her. Luchme gave a squeal, and brandished her trunk in the air, but never offered to turn taal. 80 rapid were the tigress' movements that, although Col. Meredith was thoroughly prepared, and a capital" shot, he could flre only one barrel before the huge beast leaped on to Luchme's hindquarters. The shock threw his rifle to the grouiicL Seeihg what vas likely to happen, jack and I descended frorn our perchen with lightning speed( and hastened to the reseñe; I have had plenty of tiger shooting, but never again has such a strange sight greeted my eyes as met thern then. The howdah, unused f or some time, was slightly white-ant eaten, and at a desperate assault from the frantic tigress partiaily gavo way. Nellie Meredith was slipping slowly but, as it sèemed, inevitably into the tiger's jaws. Col. Meredith's shot had taken effect in tb e animal's shoulder, and the monster, unable to spring, crouched ready to ceive her victim. Not only had the wood-work of the howdah broken, but the whole afïair was turning round, and, although Col. Meredith sought for his pistol, he could not get at it. Nellie's hand dropped in an endeavor to catch hold of the howdah, which only helped to drag the ponderous machine round. Lower and lower still slipped the girl. In another moment she would have been seized by her merciless foe, but that grand old Luchmo, watching her opportunity, wound her trunk round Nellie's supple waist, and lifted her into oomparative safety beside the mahout. At the same instant bang went Carrington's rifle, and "ping" sounded thè Oolonel's derringer, whilst the tigrcss rolled over on her back, biting the dust in her death agony. Col. Meredith's shot entered the brain, passing through the right eye- Jack's went straight to the heart. As soon as he feit himsblf on firm ground, the Colonel turned to clasp his daughter in his arms. " I am quite safe, thank heaven, papa, dear," were her flrst words. "But how foolish I was to drop the pistol V' Brave little thing, she never fainted ! And, although her face was white, neither hand nor voice trembled. But rhen we reached home the poor child said her head ached, and went to her room suffering from an attack of nervous fever which kept her in bed a fortnight. ïhis happened many years ago ; and, though we have long ïeft Buchapore, Col. Meredith stiil commands the regiment. I am supposed to be a conflrmed old bachelor, but need I add that my dearest frienda are Captain and Mrs. Carringtou ?