The Kill

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6625, 11 August 1931, Page 3

The Kill

HSOM PASTORAL TO PANIC. The shadows are lengthening in the forest, and as the first chill breeze tioni the north comes sweeping across tho clearing where the large nerd of cattle have been grazing all day the leader of the herd gives a loud bellow. The cattle, consisting of buli'aloes, bullocks and cows witti their young, are scattered all over the clearing in small groups, most of them now sitting and chewing the cud, a few of the younger animals still straying round in search of new juicy shoots. On hearing the sound one by one the cattle rise, shako themselves, and stare inquiringly with their ears held toward tno group of naked little boys who have brought them out to grazo. These urchins are just finishing a game of tip-cat, and are quite unconcerned. At last it is over, and now shouldering their lathis they call to tho cattle, and abusing tho wanderers loudly start rounding them us. They give tho signal, and the leader moves off along tho forest path, all tho others following in single file. An hour later, with all tho graziers except one—detailed off to control tho herd—riding astride on buffaloes, tho cattle aro slowly wending their way down a steep, narrow path leading to a nulla. This is the iinal_ wateringplace near the village, which is only 400yds. distant. Tho blue smoko from the wood fire hangs like a dense P a ll over the collection of grass huts which from the village, while tho evening meal is being prepared by the womenfolk for the urchins and for their fathers, who are just returning from the forest with head-loads of firewood. On both sides of tho narrow path leading down to the nulla is dense undergrowth, and in this, lurks Death. ... in the form of a tiger. As the herd approaches he crouches down behind cover in a favourable position, his yellow eyes fixed intently on tho advancing cattle. He forms a wonderful picture for any artist as he sits theie watching tho herd iilo past ono by one, quite unconscious of impending danger. As the last of tho herd comes towards him he tenses all his muscles and hunches his body, ready to spring at the selected victim.

The naked boy at the end of the herd curses a cow loudly as he hits her with his lathi: “.Thou lazy pig, move on; dost thou want to spend the night in the forest?’ 3 He looks back and sees a solitary cow, a straggler—the last of tho herd—coming slowly along. “Oh, ‘famine-stricken one/ ” he cries, “may thou perish in the forest; hurry thy steps.” He is about to retrace his steps to drive her forward, when there is a flash of yellow from tho roadside above, the cow gives a terrible xoar of pain and fear, and the next moment sinks quietly to tho ground, an inert mass—tho tiger on top of her —with a brpken nock. . . Tho tiger’s patience has been rewarded.

Pandemonium reigns in the herd — the cattle stampede in all directions calling loudly—the little boys give terrific yells of terror and run towards the villago shouting “Bagh! Bagh!” Tho king of the forest has taken his toll, and for one week the herd have nothing to fear. After that. . . . Beware !G. K., in the Calcutta ‘Statesman.’