Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-05-25

/ do not know exactly what figure ] may
have presented at that moment; but should
not wonder if anybody were to tell me that I
looked like craven.
"Dont be afraid of her." said the laughing
Frenchman, when he saw me still as mouse,
scarcely venturing to turn my looks to her
bright cruel eyes. {" She is as decent as cat
when am by. Caress her; she likes to be
fondled its the weak side Of the sex, you
know"
Itouched her delicate fur but slightly with
my hand, stroking it softly down her strong
and beautiful back, the right way of the fur,
you may be sure.
She bent her powerful and elastic limbs un-
der my frail hand, and, tanning the air with
her curved tail, seemed to encourage me to
bestow more caresses.
swell, how do you like the Princess?"
asked my host.
"Why, she is indeed handsome, and have
seen none in the old world more majestic"
"Take her down stairs, George" he said to
the lad, handing the whip over to him, "and
keep lookout yourself; but mind you don't
give her any supper. She shall help herself
tonight"
he placed the candle and our glasses again
upon the table, and began to sip his grog
quite leisurely.
"Heavens, man." I said, aften pause, "it
cannot bo your real purpose to set the tiger
on those people?"
"Eh, parbleu!" replied he, "and why not?
What else do they deserve? Are they not
| also tigers? You don't know them as do
The tall rascal is convicted felon, and ought
to have been hanged two years ago at San
Francisco. He contriyed an escape and fled
to Kansas. As to the other rogue, there is
hardly crime he has not stained his hands
with. Make your mind easy about that"
A sudden thought came into my hind, and
I asked him whether he knew anything about
the murder of my friend ten years ago in The
ravine near Jose Maria?
No, he knew nothing about that. 1t was be-
fore his time; only he should not wonder if
the major had had hand in it; it looked
very like him.
We were interrupted by a loud knocking at
the door. The lad came in soon afterwards,
telling us that he could descry FIVE of them,
all on horseback.
The old man rose, and, moving one of the
mattresses little aside, he looked cautiously
through the window. It was about nine
o'clock, and the darkness began to set in with
the rapidity peculiar to southern climates.
The knocks were repeated more vehement
ly, accompanied now with loud summons to
open the door.
: Here they are, sure enough p said the old
man. wonder why this ajor doesn't 60
to Kansas: he is the very man for Kansas
politics"
off you don't open now, you French dog"
said coarse voice, "we'll break the door /"
The eyes of the old man flashed fire, but he
spoke nevera word.
" You know me, Delamotte," said another
voice, which I had heard before. "You
know Colonel Brown. But though we ave to
settle an old account ave no business with
you this time; its the stranger ]. want, he has
of in a minute
"No use talking to that old miser," said the
former voice. with an oath. "Come on, boys,
break that door in, and end itl'
He seemed to suit the action to the word,
for tremendous crash came.
" En- arant" said the old man to the lad,
uHu tnSJ uOtu WcilL uOWu
! rose and paced up and down the room
with rapid steps. Something terrible, awful,
was going on.
The whole .block!house shook and trembled
with the violent kicks and blows which were
dealt at the door, but nevertheless I could
hear distinctly when the iron bar was removed
from it, and then-I felt as if all my blood
were rushing suddenly to my heart, leaving
not a single drop in any limb of my whole
body.
A roar-not at all like those you may hear
in the Geological Gardens, Regents Park, at
feeding time-but hundred times wilder.
sharper, more piercing, more furious-then
human cries Of horror and despair-the tramp.
ling of flying horses-the quick report of fire.
arms-then again the roar, but this time much
louder, more savage, more horrible-then a
heavy fall and confused noise of grinding of
teeth-then nothing more, because stopped
my ears with both my hands.
When turned round, my host sat at the
table again, slipping his grog as if nothing had
happened.
II am afraid" he said, after while, Gthe
Princess has been wounded. have never
heard her roaring in that way. Well, we must
see after this tomorrow. 1t would be dan
gerous job for any man to go near her
tonight"
Next morning, stood by his side when he
opened the door. My first glance fell upon
the tiger covering in thick brown.red pool.
She was licking at a red spot upon her left
flank, which seemed to have bled profusely,
but with both her powerful fore-paws she
chung to deformed and shapeless mass which
bore no likeness to anything had ever seen.
The corpse of horse, frightfully mutilsted,
lay close by, and the whole ground was strewn
with fragments of horrid appearance. My
host having examined them all with intense
curiosity, cracked his whip, and moved straight
towards the tiger.
A hollow menaeing roar warned him of
the savage creature showed ita formidable
range Of long and powerful teeth, and lost all
signs Of her old tsmeness,
"Shs is thirsty for more blood, the Princess
Royal is" said the Frenchman. That is ma.
ture, you know. She can't help it, I suppose;
and, as should be grieved to kill her, we
must wait till she comes round again."
We had to wait long. After three days the
old man himself, beginning to doubt whether
she ever would come round again, was forced
to kill her, after all.
When we were thus enabled to examine at
leisure that horrible battlefield, he drew my
attention to some remnants of coat in which
the gray color was still to be distinguished.
"He has had his reward |" said the old man,
though it cost me dear. Better than all
those majors was my poorold Princess Royal"
The TEST OF A Coop HUsBAND.-Look at
tbe kov bnla ne rho latch kav nm the street door