MILITARY ADVENTURES. 243 



the doorway. She sank to the ground in 

 terror and despair, and afterwards had no 

 recollection of time, or how long she had 

 remained in a half swooning state, after the 

 brute took possession of the door. When 

 she came to herself it was pitch dark, and 

 seeing (like two balls of fire) the dreadful 

 eyes fixed upon her, never wavering or 

 winking for an instant, she again seemed 

 to loose all recollection, but was fully 

 roused at daylight by the tiger suddenly 

 seizing her in his terrible jaw, jerking her 

 over his back and springing through the 

 open door. My father by this time had 

 become alarmed at my mother's long 

 and mysterious absence, and coming out 

 to look for her, he just reached the hut at 

 this fearful moment; doubtless the brute 

 had heard the approaching footsteps and 

 they had roused him to action. 



