The North Carolina Standard

FROM BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE.

A THRILLING SCENE

"I had never before seen anything in the shape of a tiger, and was struck dumb with astonishment; not so with my poor little Moor boy—he was the son of a famous Shikaree, and I believe he had never seen a tiger any more than myself; he had often heard his father talk of his exploits among the wild beasts of the forest; he knew me to be a Griffin, and his little heart swelled with the proud consciousness of superior knowledge in woodcraft. "Suppose master please," said he, drawing himself up and assuming an air of much importance, "I show Sahib how to kill that tiger; I know very well burrah Shikar business." In my simplicity I looked upon the daring little imp who talked thus confidently of killing a panther, with a degree of respect almost amounting to awe, and without hesitation put myself under his guidance. According to his directions I extracted the shot from my gun, and loaded it with some bullets which I happened to have in my pocket. "Now then," exclaimed my young Shikaree, as he placed me behind the shelter of a large stone directly in front of the cave; "now then, I show Sahib how to make tiger come. Sahib make a tiger eat plenty ball; that proper Shikar business." So saying, he marched directly up to the entrance of the cave and began to pelt the tiger with stones, abusing him at the same time in choice Hindostanee slang. Sure enough, this did make the tiger come with a vengeance. The enraged brute, uttering a shrill roar, darted from the cave, seized the boy by the back of neck, threw him over his shoulders, and dashed down the hill like a thunderbolt. My blood curdled at the sight. but I instantly fired. and I suppose hit the beast, for he instantly dropped the boy, who rolled into a dark ravine, at the foot of the hill. The panther having disappeared in a neighboring jungle, I descended into the ravine, to look after poor little "Kheder."

There he lay weltering in blood, dreadfully mangled, and evidently in a dying state, but still quite sensible. The gallant little fellow never uttered a complaint, but fixing his large black eyes steadily on my countenance, as if he could there read his fate, asked in a faint tone of voice for water. I was stooping down to collect some in my hat, when I was startled by a surly growl, and the noise of some animal snuffing amongst the bushwood, which closed over my head and almost excluded the light of day; it was the panther, who had returned.

My first impulse was to fly, and leave, the boy to his fate. But, poor "Kheder," seeing my intention, fixed his glassy eyes upon me with an imploring look which cut me to the heart, and made me blush for very shame. Kneeling by his side, I raised his head, wiped the bloody froth from his parched lips, and poured a few drops of water down his throat. This appeared to revive him. "You have not killed the tiger, Sahib," speaking in Hindostanee, "I am sorry for that; I should have liked to have sent his skin to my father. But you will tell him, Sahib, that I died like a Shikaree. I was not afraid of the tiger ; I never cried out when I felt his teeth crunching through my bones! No! I stuck my knife in him twice. "See! that is tiger's blood!" and his glaring eyes flashed wildly for a moment as he held up a bloody knife, which he clutched firmly in his right hand. "Father will be proud to hear this, but my mother will cry very much, and her heart will turn to water when she hears that I am dead." And here, for the first. time, the hot tears began to trickle down his cheeks. For a few minutes he remained motionless, with his eyes closed, and big drops stealing slowly and silently through the long silken eyelashes. But suddenly starting up, with his eyes bursting from their sockets, and gasping, painfully for breath, he screamed as if in a fit of delirium, Ihe tiger has seized me again ! save me Sahib, save me!" cried he in a hoarse voice; "I feel his teeth in my throat ! my breath is stopped! ah! ah!" he gasped like a person drowning— his eyes turned in his head till nothing but the white was visible, his jaws became firmly locked—a cold shudder ran thro' his limbs, and the gallant little "Kheder" fell-back in my arms a stiffened corpse. I was young then, and unused to death, and that scene has made an impression on my mind which will never be obliterated. All this time the panther continued to pace up and down the edge of the ravine, nearly on a level with my head, growling fearfully. ever and anon poking his snout into the bushes. and snuffling at me as it debating with himself, whether or not he should jump down.