A FIGHT BETWEEN A TIGER AND A BEAR.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7247, 1 March 1889, Page 2

A FIGHT BETWEEN A TIGER AND A BEAR.

I — • ' Among the many stories of adventure which Mr Inglts tells in his "Tent Life Iα Tiger Land, ,, one of the most interesting is that in which he describes a pitched battle between a tiger and a boar, whlcb he watched from'a hiding hole near a pool, where the wild beasts came to water. When the boar saw the tiger the lattei roared. But, says Mr Inglia, the old boal did not seem to mind the roar so verj much as might have been anticipated. H« actually repeated his " hoo ! hoo i" onlYJn a, if possible, more aggressive, insulting, and defiant manner. Nay more, such was his temerity that he actually advanced with a short, sharp rush in the 'direction of the striped intruder. Intently peering through the indistinct light, we eagerly watched the development. of this strange rencontre. The tiger was now crouching low, crawling stealthily round and round the boar, who changed front with ever/ movement of his lithe and sinewy adversary, keeping hla determined head and sharp, deadly tusks ever facing hie stealthy and treacherous foe. The bristles of the boar's back were up at aright angle from the strong Hpine. The wedgedshaped head poised on the strong neck and thick rampart of muscular shoulder was bent low, and the whole attitude of the body betokened full alertneea and angry resoluteness. In their clrcllngs the two brutes were now nearer to each otuei and hearer to us. and thus we could mawi every movement with greater precision. The tiger was now growling ana showing his teeth ; and all this, that takes such a time to tell, was but the work of a W*» short minutes. Crouching now still lowei till he seemed almost flat on the ground, and gathering his einewy limbs beneath his lithe, lean body, he suddenly startled the stillness with a loud roar, and quick as lightning sprang upon the boar. For a brief minute the struggle was thrilling in its intense excitement. With one swift, dexterous sweep of the strong, ready paw, the tiger fetched the boar a terrific slap right across the teyr, which made the strong beast reel; bus with a hoarse grunt of resolute defiance, with two or three short, sharp digs of the strong head and neck, and swifc catting blow* of the cruel, gashing tasks, he seemed to make a hole or two in the tiger « coat, marking it with more stripes tbaa nature had ever painted there; .and presently both combatants were streaming with gore. The tremendous buffet of the sharp daws had torn flesh and skin away from off the boar's cheek and forehead, leaving a great ugly flap hanging oyerhM face and half blindinghim. The pig was how on his mettle. With another hoarse grunt, he made straight for the tiger, who very dexterously eluded the charge, and lithe and quick as a cat after a mnM doubled almost on itself, and allgotea clean on the boar's back, inserting his teeth above the shoulders, tearing m%p his claws and biting out great mouthf uls Of flesh from the quivering carcass of hla maddened antagonist. He seemed now tv be having all the best of it. So much so that the boar discreetly stumbled and fell forward, whether by accident or dedgni know not, but the effect was to bring the tiger clean over his head, sprawling clumsily on the ground. I almost shouted, " Aha, now youhave him!" for the table* were turned. Getting his fore feef on tne tiger's prostrate carcass, the boar now gave two or three short, ripping B* 8 "® 3 with the strong, white tasks, almost disembowelling his foe, and then, exhaustea seemingly by the effor., apparently giddy end sick, he staggered isldeand lay down panting and champing its tusks, but stui defiant, with his head 13 the foe. But the tiger, too, was sick—yea, sick unto death. The blood-letting had been too much for him. And nqw thinking that it was time for the interference of a third party, I lei the two mutually disabled combatants have the contents of both my barrels, ana we had the satisfaction presently of feeing the struggling limb* grow still, and knew that both were onra. . ■■■■■->