The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-09-20
THE TIGERS CAVE.
AN ADVENTURE AMONG THE MOUNTAINS
OF QUITO


were again heard in the neighhorinu furest-and
he sun beams srarkled in the drops that hung
from the leaves. We saw through the aperture
now all nature was revivng after the wild war of
elements which had recently taken place but
the contrast only made our situation The more
horrlhe. we were IN grave from which there
was no dellverance, and munster, worse than
he tabled Cerherus. kept watch over MS. The
tiger had laid himself down beside his wheIps-
He was beautiful animal, of great size and
strength, and his limbs bring stretched ont at
their full length. displayed his immense pnwer of
muscle. double row of great teeth stood far
enough apart tn show his large red tongue. from
which the white fam fell in large drops. All at
unce, another roar was heard ut distance and
The tiger immediately rose and answered it with
muurnful howl. At the same instant. ,ur In
dians uttered shrek which announced that
some new danger threatened as. A few moments
confirmed our worst fears, fur another tiyer uut
quite so large as the former, came rapidly towards
The spit where we were.
This enemy will prove more cruel than the
other said Wharton. f" f,r this is the female.
aud she knows no pity for those who deprive her
of her young"
The bowls which the tigress gave, when she
had examined the budies of her cubs surpassed
everything of the hnrrible that we had vet heard.
aud the tiger mingled his muurnfu cries with
hers. Suddenly her roaring was lowered To a
hoarse growing, and saw her auxiously
stretch out her head. extend her vide nustrils,
and Look as 1t she were determined tn discover
immediately the murderprs of her young Her
eyes quickly fell npnn us, and she made spring
harvard with the intention of penetrating To our
place of refuge Perhaps she might have been
enabled. by her Immense strength o. push away
the slune had we mol. with all our united pnwer.
held it against her. When she found that a n her
efforts we're trultlesS, she approached the tiger
who lay stretched beside his cubs. and he RISE and
joined her holluw roarings. They stood together
inr few moments. as il in consultation, and then
suddenly went off al rapid pace. and disappear.
ed from our sight Their bowling died away in
the distance. aud then entirely ceased We n,w
hogan Ia entertain better hopes of our conditiun.
hut Wharton shruk his head DO not Hattpr
Yourselves" said he, "w th the belief that these
animals will let MS escape out of their sight, till
hey have had their revenge. The hours We
have To live are numbered! -
Nevertheless, there still appeared chance Of
our rescue for Ia our surprise, saw both of our
Indians Standing before the entrance, and heard
hem call Ia us tn seize the only possibility uf our
yet saving ourselves by instant flight for that the
tigers had only gune around the height Ia seek
annther inlet Ia the cave, which they were nh
doubt acquainted. In the greatest haste the stone
was pushed aside, and we stepped forth from
hat we had considered living grave. Nhar
ton was the last who left il he was unwilling to
l"se his dnuhe- harreled gun. and stopped to take
1t up. The rest of us thought only of making
our escape. We nnw heard once more the roar
Of tigers, though at distance and following the
example of our guides, precipitairy struck
into side path. From the number of rmrs and
branches OF trees with which the storm had strewn
mDr way, and the spperinesS nf the road our
flight was slnw and difficult. Wharton thuuuh
an active seaman had heavy step, and great
difficulty in keeping pace with Ills. and We we're
uiten uhged In siackpn oIr own On his acconnt
We had proceeded TINS for about a quarter of
an hour, when we found that our way led along
the edge nf a rocky cliff, with innumrrable ifs
lures We had just entered npun it, when sud
denly the Indians uttered one of their piprcinu
shreks. and We immediately became aware that
The tigers were IN pursuit Of us. Urged by des-
pair, we rushed towards uf The breaks. or
CULTS. in orr way. over which was thrown
bridge Of reeds, that sprang up and down at every
step, and could be trud with safety by the light
fmt of the Indian alpne Deep in the hollow be-
low, rushed an Impeiuous stream and thousand
pointed and JaggerPd rocks threatened destruction
IN every side. Lincoln my hunslnan, and my
self, passed over the chasm in safety. but Wbar
Ton was still IN the middle of the waving bridge
md endeavUTiug To Steady himself, v hen both the
tigers were Seen to Issue from The adjoining for
est and the moment they described u.s. they
bounded To" ards M with dreadful ruarings. Mean
while, Wharton had nearly gained the side of
| The gulf. aud we were clamherlng up the rocky
cliff. except Lincoln, who remained at the reedy
bridge tn assist his friend tn step upon firm ground
Wharton, though the ierOcious ANIMALS were cluse
upon bin, never list his courage or presence of
mind. As soon as he had gained the edge Of the
cliff, he knet down. and with his sword divided
the fastenings by which the bridge was attached
10 the rock He expected that an efTpciual
barrier would thus he put To The farther progress
"i our pnrsuefs; hui he was mistaken for he had
scarcely accomplished his task, when the lgress,
without moments pause, rushed toa ards the
chasIn, and attempted 10 bound over it.
| IL was fearful sight to see the mighty ami
mal suspended for moment in the air above
he abyss; hut the scene passed like fash Of
| lightning. Her strength was not equal she
fell into the gulf, and belnre she reached the hot
tom, she was torn into thUnSand pieces by the
lJaggered Pmnis Of the rocks. Her fate did not in
the least dSnIay her companion. He followed
her with an immense spring, and reached the up.
poslie side. but only with his fore claws; and
! thus he rlung To- the edge Of the precipice, en-
deavorlng 10 gain fDotlug. The Indians again
uttered wild shrek, ii all hope had been lost.
But Wharton. who was nearest the Pdge of The
tick advanced cUurageuUsly towards the tiger,
and struck his sword int, the animals breast