The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-04-17


and these efforts, proving abortive, served
only to increase his wrath. He uttered a
trightful howl. and his flaming eyes darted
light into the darkness of cur retreat.
"Now is the time to fire at him." said
Wharton, with his usual calmncss: "aim At
his eyes; the hall will 90 throus Oh his brain.
and VIC shall then have chance to get rid of
him."
Frank seized his ble-barreled gun and
Lincoln his pistols. The former placed the
muzzlr within few inches of the tiger, and
Lincoln did the same. At Wharton's COM
mand. 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. growing. from the
entrance but feeling himself unhurt. immc-
dlatolv turned hack again. and stationed him
s"lf in his former place The powder in both
pieces was wet: they therefore proceeded to
draw the useless loading. whilst Wharton
and myself FASTENED to seek our powler-hask
II was 50 extremely dark that we were ob;o-
ed TO grope about the cave: and at last. COM
inc in contact with he cubs. we heard \ rust
ling noise. as if they We're PLAYING with some
metal substance. which we soon discovered
was the canister we were looking for. Most
unfortunately. however. the animals had
pushed of the lid with their claws. and the
powder had been strewed over the damn
ground. and rendered It entirely uselcss.-
This discovery excitcd the greatest constcr-
nation
"All * over now" sad Wharton Eve have
only to choose whether we shall die Of hun
GER or open the entrance to tho hlool-thirstv
monster without. and so make 4 quicker END
of the matter"
So saving. he placed himself close behind
the stone whirh for the moment defended rs
and Looked unhaunt,,llv upon the ,irltninc
ewes Of The ti,"r Linron ravcd and svrorc
and Frank took piece of strong ror,i from
his ro"kct and fastened to the farther enc
nt' he cave hn'.w no. with what d">;..n n.-
We soon. however heard low >ttlrd r~oan
ing: and the tirrr who heard il also. horrm,
moro restless and disturbed than ever. II,
went backwards and forwards hcfor, the en-
tran"" in the most wild md imnctnons man
ner. then stool still. and >.rc.chi,,.r or, n,
neck IN III" direction o.. the forest broke forth
INTO a 1"atrninn howl Our two Indian
guides discharged several arrows from N.
tree" II" was struck moro tia, once: hut III,
l'gh' weapons bounded hark harmless from,
his SKIN. A. '"nr.h however. one or .h.r,
struck HIM near IL" eve. and tho arrow re-
m1in"h ST kinr IN The wouni H. now a.
new into The widest fury. spr,no n thc .rcc
and tore it with his claws Bm having n
'en"th succcrd"l in "cttinc r:l of the arrow
he became more calm, and laid himself down
rs before in front ofthe cave.
Frank now returned from the lower end
of the den. and Glance showed rs what he
had been doing. He had stranr!r,l the two
cubs: and before wc were aware of his intcn-
ton. he threw them through the opening 10
the tiger No sooner did the animal rcrceive
them than we gaized earnestly nnon them.
and began to examine them cautiously from
SIDE to side. As soon as he became aware
that they were dead. he uttered so piercing a
howl of sorrow that We were obliged TO put
our hands to onr ears
When crnSurrd nv huntsman for the
ra>hncSs and cruelty of the action. pcrcciv-
ed by his blunt and abrupt answers that he
also had lost all hope of rescue. and with !,
all sense of the ties between master and ser
want.
The thunder had now ceased and the storm
had sunk to gentle GALE: we could hear the
son"s Of birds in tn" nrichborinc forest and
the sun was streaming among the branches
The contrast only made orr situation the
more horrible. The tiger had laid himself
down beside his whelps IIr was beautiful
animal, Of great size and strength, and hi.
limbs being stretched out to their full length
displayed an immense power of mu>rIc Al
at once another roar was heard at distance
and the tiger Immediately rose and answered
it with mournful howl. At the same in
slant our Indians uttered shrek, which an
nounced that some new danger threatened
us. \ few moments conf rmcd our wors
fears, for another tiger not quite as larrc a.
the former, came rapidly towards the spo
where we were
This enemy will prove more cruel thar
the other" said Wharton. '.for this is the f.
male, and she knows no pity for those VIII,
deprive her of her young"
The howls which the tigress gave when sh,
examined the bodies Of her cubs, surDas,.,
every conception of the horrible that car
be formed; and the ii ger mingled his mourn
tul cries with hers. Suddenly her roarn.
was lowered to hoarse growing. and W,
saw her anxiousy stretch out her head, ex
tend her nostrils, and look around. as if il
search OF the murderers other young. IIel
eyes quickly fell upon us, and she made Z
spring forward with the intention of penetrat
ing to our place Oh safety. Perhaps she might
have been enabled, by her immense strength
topush away the stone, had we not, with all
our united power, held it against. When she