Part 7 (1/2)

But why their joy at the approach of our travellers?

This was proudly explained by Ossaroo, who of course had reason to be proud of the circumstance

It appeared that the faer-hunter, had preceded hiers had heard that he was approaching, accohees, (so Europeans are called by the natives of India,) and they hoped, by the aid of the noted shi+karree and the Feringhee Sahibs, to get rid of the dreaded ave his promise to aid them Of course the botanist hted with the idea They were to re could be done before night They le and attack the tiger in his lair, but ould have coers cared to risk themselves in such a hunt, and that was not the way that Ossaroo killed his tigers

Karl and Caspar expected to see their coem of the birdlime and the leaves; and such at first was his intention Upon inquiry, however, he found that no birdliers did not kno to prepare it, and there were no fig-trees about the neighbourhood, nor holly, nor trees of any other kind out of which it could properly be made

What was Ossaroo to do under these circu the ers to their fate? No His hunter pride would not perreat shi+karree was at stake Besides, his huh but a poor Hindoo, he possessed the cos of our nature Karl and Caspar, ed hi hiive

It was resolved, therefore, that, cost what it er should be destroyed

Ossaroo had other resources besides the birdlime and the battue, and he at once set to work to prepare his plan He had an aerly and ran hither and thither obedient to his nod In front of the village there was a piece of open ground This was the scene of operations

Ossaroo first coround in a quadrangle of about eight feet in length and width These posts when sunk firht, and each had a fork at the top On these forks four strong beams were placed horizontally, and then fir fro bamboos four inches apart fro about four inches in thickness The earth was then filled in, and trodden firhts immovable

A tier of similar bamboos was next laid horizontally upon the top, the ends of which, interlocking with those that stood upright, held the latter in their places Both were securely lashed to the frame timbers--that had been notched for the purpose--and to one another, and then the structure was coe with smooth yellow rods, each four inches in dia, but it was not desirable to have a door Although it was intended for a ”trap cage,” the ”bird” for which it had been constructed was not to be aders to provide hi were still living This was easily procured Still another article he required, but both it and the goat had been ”bespoke” at an earlier hour of the day, and aiting his orders This last was the skin of a buffalo, such a one as we have already seen used by these people in crossing their rivers

When all these things had been got ready it was near night, and no tiers Ossaroo was speedily arrayed in the skin of the buffalo, his ars, with the head and horns drawn over him like a hood, so that his eyes were opposite the holes in the skin

Thus oat along with him The stake, that had been kept out for the purpose of ad them within the enclosure, was now set into its place as firers, with Karl and Caspar, retired to their houses, and left the shi+karree and his goat to the the spot would have had no other thoughts than that the cage-like enclosure contained a buffalo and a goat On closer exaht have been perceived that this buffalo held, grasped fir bamboo spear; and that was all that appeared odd about it--for it was lying down like any other buffalo, with the goat standing beside it

The sun had set, and night was now on The villagers had put out their lights, and, shut up within their houses, aiting in breathless expectation Ossaroo, on his part, was equally anxious--not froainst that He was only anxious for the approach of the ht have the opportunity to exhibit the triumph of his hunter-skill

He was not likely to be disappointed The villagers had assured hihtly visit, and prowling around the place for hours together It was only when he had succeeded in carrying off some of their cattle that he would be absent for days--no doubt his hunger being for the time satiated; but as he had not lately made a capture, they looked for a visit froer should coe, Ossaroo had no fear that he could attract him to the spot He had laid his decoy too well to fail in this The goat, deprived of her young, kept up an incessant bleating, and the kids answered her froe As the hunter knew frooat-venison, he had no fear but that the voice of the anih to hear it In this the villagers assured him he would not be disappointed

He _was not disappointed_; neither was he kept long in suspense He had not been uise, before a loud growling on the edge of the forest announced the approach of the dreadedwildly about in the enclosure, uttering at intervals thecries

This was just what Ossaroo wanted The tiger, hearing the voice of the goat, needed no further invitation; but in a fewboldly up to the spot There was no crouching on the part of the terrible brute He had been too long ht encounter, and he stood in need of a supper The goat that he had heard would be just the dish he should relish; and he had deter his claws upon her without more ado In another e!

The odd-looking structure puzzled him, and he halted to survey it

Fortunately there was a er to see what the cage contained, but it also gave Ossaroo an opportunity of watching all his er, ”it's an enclosure sooat and buffalo froh, too, to keepat them

Well, they appear to have been very particular about the building of it

We shall see if they have h”

With these reflections he drew near, and rearing upward caught one of the bae paw, and shook it with violence The cane, strong as a bar of iron, refused to yield even to the strength of a tiger; and, on finding this, the fierce brute ran rapidly round the enclosure, trying it at various places, and searching for an entrance

There was no entrance, however; and on perceiving that there was none, the tiger endeavoured to get at the goat by inserting his paws between the ba to the opposite side, and so kept out of the way It would have served the tiger equally well to have laid his claws upon the buffalo, but this animal very prudently remained near the centre of the enclosure, and did not appear to be so badly scared withal No doubt the coolness of the buffalo soer, but in his endeavours to capture the goat, he did not stop to show his surprise, but ran round and round, now dashi+ng forcibly against the ba his paws between thes would stretch

All at once the buffalo was seen to rush towards hi able to reach the latter with his clahen, to his astonishainst his snout, and rattle upon his teeth, while the fire flew from his eyes at the concussion Of course it was the _horn_ of the buffalo that had done this; and now, rendered furious by the pain, the tiger forgot all about the goat, and turned his attention towards revenging himself upon the animal who had wounded hiainst the bath