Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1829-06-24

I
10 discover Immediately the murderers OF
| her Young. Her eyes quickly fell upon
MS. and she made Il spring forward with
the intention of penetrating to our place OF
refuge Perhaps she might have been en-
abled b. her immense strength, to push a
wav the stone, had we not with all our
united power, held it against her. When
she found that all her efforts we're fruitless,
| She approached the tiger, who lay stretch
ed beside his cubs, aud he rose and joined
Iia her hollow roarlngs. They stood to
sethcr as If in consultation, and then sud
denly went off at a rapid pace and disaP-
peared from our sight. Their bowling dl-
ed away IN the distance, and then entirely
ceased. We now began to entertain bet
ter hopes of our condition; but Wharton
shook his head "Do not hatter your
selves, " said he, ''with the belief that these
animals will let us escape out Of their
sight ull they have revenge. The hours
we have to live are numbered"
Nevertheless there still appeared
I chance Of our rescue, for to our SURPRISE
we saw both our Indians standing before
( the entrance; and heard them call to US to
seize the onty possibility Of our yet sav0g
ourselves by instant flight for the tigers
had only gone round the height to seek IL
mother inlet to the cave with which they
were no doubt acquainted Inthe greatest
haste the stone was pushed aside, and we
slept forth from what we considered ly
mo grave. Wharton was the last that LETT
It; he was unwilling TO lose his double bar
relied gun, and stopped to take 1t up; the
rest of us thought only OF making our es-
cape. We now heard once more the roar
mg of tigers. though at distance; and fol-
loving the example of our guides, we pre-
ciDlttely struck into a side path. From
the numbers Of the roots and branches OF
trees with which the storm had Strewcd
our way and the shppeuness Of the road,
our fight was slow and difficult. Whar
ton, though an active seaman, hada heavy
step, and had great difficulty in keeping
pace with US, and we were often obhg
ed to 10 slackcu our own on his account
We had proceeded thus for about a
quarter of am hour when We found that our
way led along the edge Of a rocky cliff
wish nnumerabe assures. We bad
jusr entered upon 1t, when suddenly the
Indians, who were before us uttered one
of their piercing shieks, and we immedi-
ately became aware that the tigers were
ln pursuit of us. Urged by despair we
rushed towards one of the breaks, or CULTS
M our way, over which was thrown a
bridge of reeds, that sprang up and down
at every step. and could be uod with safe
ty by the light foot Of the Indians alone.
Deep IN the hollow below rushed an inn
petuous stream, and thousand pointed
and tagged rocks threatened destruction
on every side. Lincoln, my huntSman,
and myself, passed over the chasm IN safe
~; but Wharton was still 10 the middle of
the waving bridge and endeavoriug to
steady himself, when both the tigers were
seen to issue from the adjoining forests;
and the moment they deserted us, they
bounded towards MS with dreadful roarIngs.
Meanwhile, Wharton had nearly gained
the safe side of the gulf, aud we were all
up the rocky cliff, except LIN
coin, who remained at the rcedy bridge to \
assist his friend to step upon firm ground.
Wharton, though the terOCious animals
were close upon nm never lost his courage
or i,rasonre of mind. As soon as he Lad
gained the edge of the cliff, he hnelt down
aud with his sword divided the fastenlngs
bv which the bridge was attached to the
rock. He expected that an ettectual bar
rier would thus be put to the farther pro-
gross ofour pursuers; buthe was mistaken;
for he had scarcely accomplished his task,
when the tigress, without a moments pause
rushed towards the chasm, and attempted
to bound over it. It was fearful sight to
see the mighty animal suspended for mo-
ment, I'm the air, above the abyss; but the
scene passed like a fash Of lightning. -
Her strength was notequal to tie distance;
she fell into the gulf, aud before she reach
ed the bottom was torn into thousand
pieces by the Jagged points Of the rocks.
Her fate did not IN the least dlsmay her
companion; he followed her with an i'm
mense spring and reached tic opposite
side, but only with his fore claws; and
thus chung to the edge ofthe Precipice, en-
deayorlng to gain a footing. The Indians
again uttered a wild shrek, as if all hope
had been lost. But Wharton, who was
nearest the edge of the rock, advanced
courageously towards the Tiger, & struck
his sword into the animals breast. En-
ragged beyond all measure, the wild beast
collected all his strength and with vio-
lent effort, fixing one bis legs upon the
edge of the cliff, he seized Wharton by the