The Takahe Stud

Press, 3 May 1977, Page 14

The Takahe Stud

by

RAPHAEL J. MACLOUGHLIN

Episode 12

“The tiger! We’ve seen it: On our land: killed one of our heifers.” So gasped burly George Farquhar, as he and his brother burst into the Takahe police station. "The inspector’s out but I may be able to contact him on the R.T.. Whereabouts is your farm?” queried the desk sergeant. “Beside the Takahe Stud,” came the reply.

Meanwhile, Garth and the inspector had followed a trail of blood and now stood at the foot of a steep mountain. The inspector was jubilant. “This time, Mr Williams, I shall capture the tiger. It’s obvious the animal’s using the old quarry up there as a hiding place.” "Well, if I can be of any help,” began Garth. "No, I think you and your horse

better get home. This could be dangerous,” said the inspector. “Thank heaven’s he’s gone,” muttered Inspector Hawkins, after the stud owner had departed, “now nothing can go wrong. The tiger made a fool of me once but not this time. I better get back to the car and radio for help.”

"Ah! inspector, glad I got you. I’ve got the Farquhar brothers, here, they’ve reported seeing the tiger on their land.” “Well, it’s on the Takahe Stud now, I want men with dogs and rifles here immediately and . . .”

While the inspector gave his instructions, Sheba was busily engaged dragging the kill to her lair. The task was a difficult one . . .

But at last she reached the aban

doned quarry office and pushed the heifer’s carcase through the nearby bushes that concealed her underground lair. The tiger was unaware of some flesh that had torn loose from the now' hidden kill.

The sight of the police dogs convinced Inspector Hawkins even more of his success in capturing the escaped tiger. He gave the order to spread out and advance. Aroused by the smell of blood, the dogs fairly dragged their handlers

up the steep mountain side while the armed members of the force cautiously followed. “Well, that’s it," said Inspector Hawkins, disappointedly, looking on as the dogs excitedly tore some flesh they had found. “The tiger ate its kill

on the top of this mountain, it’s probably a mile away by now” The inspector's voice carried to an interested spectator. Sheba's next move could be expected to follow animal cunning, and might be savage. Another word or a movement perhaps . . .