Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-12-20


Fearful Of being discovered we remained
quiet for time, holding our breath in sus-
pense. But no one disturbed, or thought of
disturbing us. The animals often started a
chorus of strange noises during the night, and
the keepers, thinking nothing unusual to be
the matter, merely cursed the unruly beasts
for destroying the unity of their rest, and
turning back, went to sleep again.
As soon as quiet was restored, we slit a
hole in the canyass--for we we're afraid to
emerge by the aperture which faced the tav-
ern-rolled our hogshead through the yard
to the back gate, which we mfastened, and
then passing into the road, started at quick
rate for our spot Of destination. Over and
over went the hogshead, the animal within
growing at the rough treatment he received,
and we nearly convulsed at the uncouthness
Of the noise which he made
At length we reached the back part of the
college, when one of our party climbed over
the wall and unfastened the gate Werolled
in our prize to the back door Of the labora-
tory, which was the place where our profess
sor Of chemistry leotured We found that, in
consequence of the narrowness of the door,
the hogshead would not enter. Such being
the case, we were about to start the animal
through the open door, when an idea, more
redolent of fun struck the fancy of Somers.
Back of the lecture room was small apart
ment containing odds and ends, and which
was not visited, perhaps, once a month. He
said rightly, that if we placed Bruin in this
apartment he would not likely be discovered
until some time during the lecture of the pro-
fessor, when the noise he would be likely to
make attracting attention, the plot would
readily be brought to a crisis We joined
our strength, and, upon our shoulders, up
went the hogshead, until it was placed on
level with the window
A light young fellow the smallest Of the
party, climbed up, hosted the window, and
Sided up the lid of the cask. We shook the
pose. The animal was thoroughly frightened,
and lay still, or with only an occasional growl.
We shook it again, and he started. There
was but one possible mode of progression,
which was straight forward-and the brute
gave spring through the window There
was a crash of glass, howl, and the terri
fed animal, crouchingin the corner, remained
silent. Our little companion closed the sash
and leapcd down. We rolled the hogshead
up into a corner of the yard and, returning
to our rooms, continued our revelry till near
daylight.
1t was about noon when awoke. | hur-
ried on my clothes, passed wet towel round
my head, swallowed some soda water, and ai-
terwards cup of coffee, and then hastened
to the college 1t was the hour of the pro-
fessor of chemistry, and | entered the room
just as he had commenced descant upon the
subject. The class were all wrapt in atten-
tion-for the lecturer was an able man, and
was lecturng upon Light" a matter of in
tcrest, and capable of beautiful illustration.
He had scarcely finished his short and elo-
quent exordium, before we heard a crash of
bottles, and low, startling growl in the next
room. The professor started, and stopped
moment, while those of the class not in the
secret looked at each other in astonishment.
There was pause of few moments dura-
tion-and then the professor proceeded.
| began to feel aarmed--I remembered
what had been done the night before. Under
ordinary circumstances there was no danger
to be apprehended. The bear was tame
enough, and had been whipped until he had
imbibed proper sense of the superiority of
man. But from the sounds | judged that
Bruin had worked himself into the room, only
separated from us by a thin partition full of
windows, in which were kept the various
drugs used in Illustrating experiments. There
were great many carbons and bottles of
acid in that room. Should he oyerset any of
these, and their contents touch his skin, he
l. - q ha xxyinf Ia
of the apartment, and do some mischief be-
fore we could secure him. BY the looks of
my companions, | saw that they entertained
the same fears.
There was another crash and growl The
professor stopped again, and the class looked
around in dismay. Those who were acquaint-
ed with the cause of the noise could scarcely
keep their countenances. In spite of the
alarm under which they labored, there was
something so ludicrous in the growl, especial
ly when we figured to ourselves the coming
CONSERVATION of the class, that they could
hardly refrain from laughing outright. The
professor, who could not tell from whence the
sound proceeded and thought it a trick of
the class, reproved them severely, and then
continued his lecture ".Gentlemen," said he
preparing for brilliant experiment, al will
show you a most startling effect"
And he did HARK there was sudden
crash, as if every bottle in the place had been
destroyed at onee--a smoke rose up-there
was a terrific howl that made the blood cur
die and the marrow thrill-and through that
frail glass-Father Of Truth ace had nlista-
Ken the cage,-there leaped forth, infuriated
with the burning liquid which streamed over
him-oh, horror!--AN UNTAMED ROYAL TIGER.
M rordo can discrihe the consfernation