visions were, another far brighter rose before which all others paled
or faded by comparison. Edith, in all her glorious beauty, now riveted
his every thought, engrossed the whole stretch of his imagination, and
for the time rendered all else opaque and obscure; for had she not
promised to become his wife, to share with him the varied fortunes of a
soldiers' life, to be the joy and solace of his riper years, and heart
in heart and hand in hand, to glide together, as it were, almost
imperceptibly into the yellow leaf of ripe old age. Again, like the ever
varying pictures of light and shade, his thoughts turned on the
present,--this campaign over, the mutiny crushed out, and the command of
a troop conferred upon him, he would be in a position to return to
England, claim his bride, and thus would the dearest wishes of his heart
be fully realized. From this delightful train of thought, he was aroused
by the cracking and breaking of the dry leaves and brush wood at some
little distance, yet immediately in front of him, and ere he had time to
rise, an enormous tiger, a regular Bengalle, sprang over the intervening
bushes on the open space, within a few yards of where Carlton was
quietly smoking. This sudden appearance was as unlooked for by our hero
as was Carlton's figure by the royal beast himself, and, for a few
seconds, they gazed on each other. But Arthur's presence of mind on such
occasions never deserted him. Instantly bringing to his shoulder the
rifle that lay handy by his side, and without moving his position, he
covered and took deliberate aim at his--to say the least of it--just
then unwelcome visitor. Until the cocking of the rifle, the enormous
brute seemed undecided as to what course to pursue. But no sooner did
this sound reach the tiger, than his long tail began to sway slowly
backwards and forwards two or three times; and, with a low growl, fierce
and deep, settled himself gradually back on his haunches, preparatory to
making that spring which this class of animals are so famous for, and
which in many instances prove so fatal to those who pursue or oppose