IN

N the month of January, some few years ago, I was the guest of a hospitable East India coffee planter. He had often pressed me to visit him, and I had accepted his invitation, at last, hoping that I might, perhaps, find myself, for the first time, taking part in a tiger hunt.

2. It happened that fate favored my wish. One of the dogs had disappeared, the week before, leaving a trail of blood, and a bullock had been killed on the road to Buttlawaddy. Our friend Fairfield dispatched a messenger to ask a neighbor, seven miles off, to join us with any hands he could spare, and with such native hunters as he could get, to assist in beating the jungle.

3. In two days, Mr. Black arrived with a dozen beaters and three hunters. The latter were directed to follow the tiger's trail, which had been discovered, and to report progress early. Three rifles, charged with ball, and three smooth-bores, with slugs, were laid aside ready for use, and a long, broad-bladed knife was procured for each one of the party.

4. The scouts returned on the afternoon of the next day, bringing the intelligence that a tigress had been seen entering a gap below the summit of a hill, about five miles distant. No time was lost in assembling the men and starting for the spot.

5. The jungle was very thick, and we had to walk single file a great part of the way. A short distance above where we were, the ground was hilly and rocky. Just below the summit of the hill we could see the mouth of a cave, in front of which lay a huge bowlder. So narrow was the passage between

the cave and this bowlder, that but a single person could enter at a time.

6. The first thing to be done was to ascertain whether or not the tigress was in the cave. One of the native hunters, secreting himself near its mouth, imitated the cry of a kid, in the hope of decoying the beast from her lair; but without success. At length, a loose stone was rolled inside the den, and a low whine and a scratching of the ground were heard. One of the hunters then crept forward, and, peering into the den, reported that the tigress was gone, but that the young ones were there.

7. Having dragged forth the two cubs, and secured them in a hollow of the hill above the cave, all hands secreted themselves, and prepared to give the tigress a deadly volley. Our attendants, numbering about twenty, were sent to a distant part of the jungle, and directed to drive the beast toward the cave.

8. It was a full hour before the noise made by the beaters was heard. My ear then caught the sound of rapid movements in front of me, and I could hear a heavy body forcing its way through the jungle. Soon there was a rush, and a crash of bushes, and a gigantic tigress sprang upon the rock, at the cave's mouth.

9. Instantly three barrels were discharged. The tigress reeled back from the entrance, with a frightful roar; but, recovering herself, she turned and advanced with flaming eyes, when she was again sent reeling and roaring back, with the contents of the remaining barrels in her body.

10. Not yet conquered, she turned to the mouth of the cave, and discovering Fairfield and one of the hunters behind the bowlder, she sprang upon them.

To rush in with knives and axes was the work of a moment; but already Fairfield had been dashed to the ground by a stroke of the brute's paw, although the hunter had dealt her blow after blow with his broad knife.

11. All now joined in the struggle. The brute turned first upon one and then upon another, as she felt the keen edge of our knives entering her flesh. We almost wallowed in blood. I do not know how long the struggle lasted; but there came a pause, and it was over.

12. Fairfield lay motionless, with torn arms, his light hair and pale face covered with gore, the claws of a huge paw fixed in one shoulder, and one leg under the brute's carcass. The native hunter, still clutching his knife, which was buried to the hilt in the brute's flesh, lay across her body.

13. We extricated Fairfield and the hunter, both insensible, and laid them upon a bed, hastily made of such garments as we could spare. It was past midnight before the doctor arrived. By that time the men had recovered their senses, but were unable to move. The doctor dressed their wounds, which luckily were not fatal; but it was full two months before either of them could take part in another tiger hunt.

EXERCISES IN EMPHASIS.

1. He had often pressed me to visit him.

2. It happened that fate favored my wish.

3. Mr. Black arrived with a dozen beaters and three hunters. 4. The jungle was very thick, and we had to walk single file:

5. A low whine and a scratching of the ground were heard.

6. Soon there was a rush, and a crash of bushes.

7. The brute turned, first upon one, and then upon another."

XXII.-THE AMERICAN FLAG.

WHEN Freedom, from her mountain height,

Unfurled her standard to the air,

She tore the azure robe of night,
And set the stars of glory there;
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
The milky baldric of the skies,
And striped its pure celestial white
With streakings of the morning light;
Then, from his mansion in the sun,
She called her eagle-bearer down,
And gave into his mighty hand
The symbol of her chosen land!

2. Majestic monarch of the cloud,

Who rear'st aloft thy regal form,
To hear the tempest-trumpings loud,
And see the lightning lances driven,

When strive the warriors of the storm,
And rolls the thunder-drum of heaven-
Child of the sun! to thee 't is given
To guard the banner of the free,
To hover in the sulphur smoke,
To ward away the battle-stroke,
And bid its blendings shine afar,
Like rainbows on the cloud of war,
The harbingers of victory!

3. Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly,
The sign of hope and triumph high,
When speaks the signal trumpet tone,
And the long line comes gleaming on,

Ere yet the life-blood, warm and wet,
Has dimmed the glistening bayonet,
Each soldier's eye shall brightly turn
To where thy sky-born glories burn;
And as his springing steps advance,
Catch war and vengeance from the glance.
And when the cannon's mouthings loud,
Heave in wild wreaths the battle shroud,
And gory sabers rise and fall,
Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall;
Then shall thy meteor glances glow,
And cowering foes shall sink below
Each gallant arm that strikes beneath
That awful messenger of death.

4. Flag of the seas! on ocean's wave

Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave;
When death, careering on the gale,
Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail,
And frighted waves rush wildly back
Before the broadside's reeling rack,
Each dying wanderer of the sea
Shall look at once to heaven and thee,
And smile to see thy splendors fly
In triumph o'er his closing eye.

5. Flag of the free heart's hope and home!
By angel hands to valor given;

Thy stars have lit the welkin dome,

And all thy hues were born in heaven. Forever float that standard sheet!

Where breathes the foe but falls before us, With Freedom's soil beneath our feet, And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us?

J. R. Drake.