The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-31
TT. BELL, Editor and Proprietor.

color; strong claws were upon their feet
and blood red tongue hung out of theil
mouths. Wharton had scarcely glanced
at them, when he exclaimed in consterna
ton, Good God. we have come into the
den of '---. He was interrupted
by fearful cry of dismay from our guides
who came rushing precipitately towards us
calling out, "A tiger tiger p and at the
same time, with extraordinary rapidity,
they climbed up a cedar tree which stood
at the entrance of the cave, and hid them.
selves among the branches.
After the first sensation Of horror and
surprise, which rendered me motionless for
a moment had subsidized, | grasped nv fire
arms. Wharton had already regained his
composure and selfpossession and he CAL
led to us to assist him instantly in blocking
up the mouth of the cave with an immense
stone which fortunately lay near it. The
sense of approaching danger augmented
our strength; for we now distinctly heard
the growl of the ferocious animal, and we
were lost beyond redemption if it reached
the entrance before we could get it closed.
Ere this was done, we could distinctly see
the tiger bounding toward the spot, and
STOPPING in order to creep into his den by
the narrow opening. At this fearful mo-
ment our exertions were successful, and the
great stone kept the wild beast al bay
There was small open space, however,
left between the top of the entrance and
the stone, through which we could see the
head of the animal. Illuminated by its glow
ing eyes which it rolled, glaring with fury
upon US. Its frightful roaring, too, pene-
trated to the depths of the cavern, and was
answered by the hoarse growing of the
cubs, which Lincoln and Frank had now
tossed from them. Our ferocious enemy
attempted first to remove the stone with
his powerful claws, and then to push it
with its head from its place; and these eff
forts proving abortive served only to in.
crease his wrath. He uttered a heart pier.
cling howl, and his flaming eyes darted
light into the darkness of our retreat.
"Now is the time to fire. said Wharton,
with his usual calmness sat his eyes the
bal. will 60 through the brain, and we shall
then have chance to get rid of him."
Frank seized his doube-barrelled gun.
and Lincoln his pistols-the former placed
the muzzle within few inches of the tiger,
and Lincoln did the same At Wharton's
command they both drew the triggers at
the same moment, but no shot followed
The tiger, who seemed aware that the flash
indicated an attack upon him, sprang grow
ling from the entrance; but feeling himself
unhurt, Immediately turned back again,
and stationed himself in his former place.
The powder in both pieces was wet they
therefore proceeded to draw the useless
loading, whilst Wharton and myself has.
tened 10 seek our powder.hask. 1t was so
extremely dark. that we were obliged TO
grope about the cave; and, at last, coming
in contact with the cubs we heard rust
ling noise, as if they were playing with
some metal substance, which we soon dis
covered was the canister we were looking
for. Most unfortunately, however, the an
finals had pushed off the lid with their
claws, and the powder had been strewed
over the damp earth and rendered entirely
useless. This horrible discovery excited
the greatest CONSERVATION.
"All is now over" said Wharton, eve
have only TO choose whether we shall die of
hunger, together with these animals, who
are shut up along with us, or open the en-
trance TO the blood thirsty monster without,
and so make an end of the matter"
So saying he placed himself close beside
the stone which for the moment defended
us, and looked undauntedIy out on the
lightning eyes of the tiger Lincoln ra-
we'd and swore and Frank took piece of
strong cord from his pocket, and fastened
TO the further end of the cave-I knew not
with what design. We soon, however,
heard a low stifed groaning; and the tiger,
who had heard it also, became more rest
less and disturbed than ever! He went
backwards and forwards before the en-
trance of the cave, in the most wild and
impetuous manner, then stood still and
stretched out his neck in the direction of
the forest. broke forth into deafening
howl. Our two Indian guides took advan.
tage of the opportunity to discharge sever
al arrows from the tree. He was struck
more than once, but the light weapons
bounded back harmless from his thick skin.
At length, however, one of them struck
him near the eye, and the arrow remained
sticking in the wound. He now broke a.
new into the widest fury, sprang at the
tree, and tore it with his claws as if he
would have dragged it to the ground But
having at length succeeded in gettieg rid
of the arrow, he became more calm and
laid himself down as before, in front of the
cave.
Frank now returned from the lower end
OF the den, and glance showed US what
ne had been doing. IT. each hand, and
dangling from the end of string, were the
two cubs. He had strangled them and
before we were aware what he intended,
he threw them through the opening to the
tiger. No sooner did the animal perceive
them than he gazed earnestly upon them,
and began to examine them closely, turn.
ing them cautiously from side to side. As
soon as he became aware that they were
dead, he uttered so piercing'a howl of sor-
row that we were obliged to put our hands
to our ears. When upbraided my hunts