The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-08-16

|
shrek, which announced that some ne,
danger threatened us. A few moment
confirmed our worst fears, for another q
ger, not quite 50 large as the former, cam
rapidly towards the spot where w
were.
This enemy will prove more crue
than the other" said Wharton /" for thi
Is the female, aud she knows no pity e.
those who deprive her Of her young."
Tho howIs which the tirress gave, whel
she had examined the bodies of her cubs
surpassed everything of horrible that W,
had yet heard and the tiger mingled hi,
mournfu cries with hers. Suddenly be
roaring was lowered to hoarse growl,
ing, aud we saw her an&iously stretch oui
her head, extend her wi 10 and smoking
noStriIs, and look as if she were determ.
lned to discover Immediately the murder
ers Of her young. Her eyes quickly fell
uPol us, and she made Il spring toward
with the intention of penetrating 10 our
place of refuge. Perhaps she might have
been enabled, by her immense strength
to push away the stone, had we not, with
&il our united power, held it against her.
| When she found that all her efforts were
trnItleSs, she approached the tiger, who
lay stretched out beside his cubs, and he
arose AL joined in her hollow roarings.
They stool together for few moments,
as it in consul alton, and then suddenly
went off at II rapid pace, and disappear
ed from our sighG. Their hoSliug died
away in the distance, AMI then entirely
ceased We now began to entertain bet
ter hopes OF our condition; but Wharton
shook his heal
DO not iatter yourselves" said he,
"with the belief that these animals will
lct-us escape ont of their sight till they
have had their revenge. Tho hours we
have To live are numbcr.d."
Nevertheless, there still appeared n
chance OF our rescue, for TO our surprise,
We saw both our Indians standing before
the entrance, aud heard them can TO Us
~ scize the only possibility OF our yet sa-
wing ourselves by instant flight, for that
the tigers had only gone round the height
to seek another inlet to the cave, with
which they were, no doubt, acquainted.
In the greatest haste the stone was push
ed aside, and we stepped forth from VIII
we had considered "A living grave. Whar
ton was the last who left it; he was u =
wiling TO lose his double barrelled gun.
anil stopped to take it up; the rest oi Us
thought only OF making our escape. We
now heard once more the r>aring of the
! tigers, though ut distance; and follow .
lng the example Of Our guides, we struck
into n Sle path. From the number OF
roots and branches of trees with which
| tn. storm had strewed our way, AMI the
sIipperynrSs OF the roa |, our flight was
slow and dlticut Wharton, though an
active seaman, had heavy step, al d
had great difficulty in keeping pace with
us, and we We're often obliged to slack.
en- our pace on bis account.
We had proceeded thus far about a
quarter Of an hour, when we found thai
our way led along the edge OF a rocky
cliff, with nnumerable fis>u o.. We had
just entered upon it, when suddeniy the
lntians, who were before us, uttered Que
of their piercing shrieks, and we im.nedi-
ateIy became aware that the tigers wer,
in pursuit of us. Urged by despair. We
rushed towards one of the breaks, or gulfs
IN our way, over which was thrown a
bridge OF reeds, that sprung up aud down
ut every step, and could be trod in safety
10y the li1ht foot OF the Indians alone
Deep in the hollow below rushed an i'm
petuous stream, and thousand pointed
and jagged rocks threatened destruction
on every side. Lincoln, my huntsman
and myself, passed over the cLasln in safe
ty: but Whorton was sill in the middle
of the waving bridge, and enSeavoring tc
steady himself, when both the tigers were
seen to issue from the adjoining forest
AMI the moment they deserted US, they
bounded towards us with dreadful roaring
Meanwhile Wharton had nearly gained
tie safe side Of the gull, and we we're al
clinbing up tho rocky cliff, except Lincoln
who remained at the reedy bridge to as
list bis friend to step upon finn ground
Wharton, though the ierocioas animals
were close upon him, never lost his cour.
age or presence of mind. As soon as lac
had gained the edge Of the 6 III. he knel
down, and with his sword div ded tn,
fAstenings by which the bridge was AT
tached to the rock. He expected thai
an eifectual barrier would thus be put 3,
the farther progress of our pursuers; bu
he was mistaken, for he had scarcely ac
cmplished his task, when the tigres-
without a moments pause, rusbe, to-war.
the chasm and attempted 70 l'ound owe
it, IL was fearful sight 10 see the nigh
ty animal suspended, for moment, il
the air above the abyss; but the seen
passed like a flash Of lightning. ii
strength was not equal to the distance
she tell into the gulf, and befoce she reach
ell the bottom she was torn into thor,
sand pieees by the Jagged points Of tn
rex Her fate did not in the least ,di'
may hercompanion; he follosed her viii
an unmense spring, and reached the oE
posite side, but only with his fore-cIaws
} shd tlius he clung TO the-edge ofthe pr'
. cipice, endeavoring to gain a footing fh
| Indians again uttered wild shrek, as
all hope had been lost. But Wharto