East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-07-05


comprehend that human being woul,
have the hardihood to attack him, he We
doubted concerning his wound bnt sool
his glaring eyes guessed it; his jaws open
ed; roar, heavy and prolonged, like tn
rumbling of thunder, escaped as out of
cavern, from the depth OF his breast.
He seized the arrow fixed in his wound
and crushed it between his teeth, casting
around him look which, despite tn,
grating which protected them, causeC
the spectators to recoil. He sought fo
an object on which his royal rage NIGH
fall. AT this moment he perceived tn,
courser, trembling as if he were standing
on ice, though he was covered with sweat
and ceasing to roar, but utterine
short cry, sharp and reiterated, he made
a bound which brought him within
twenty PAGES Of this the first victim ol
his choice.
Now commenced second course, more
wonderful even than the first, for there
is not much of science itself to mar the
instinct of animals. Force and swiftness
were promptly put forth in all their saw
age energy, and the eyes of two hundred
thousand spectators were turned for a
time from the two Christians to follow
round the Amphtheatre this fantastic
chase, the more agreeable to the crowd
that it was least expected.
A second leap brought the lion to the
horse, which, crouching at the back part
of the circus, could fee neither to the
right nor to the left. He sprang over
the head of his enemy, whom he had set
himself to pursue with unequal bounds
bristling his hair, and uttering from time
to time sharp growlings, which the fu-
gitive answered with neghings of terror
Soon the ill-fated courser, fascinated
as women and gazelles are said to be at
the sight Of serpents, fell down, strug-
ed and rolled upon the sand in the agony
of terror. AT this moment second ar
row left bow of Silas, and buried itself
between the ribs of the lion. The lion
turned himself; this instant sufficed the
Syrian to send his enemy third messen.
ger Of pain. The lion sprang at the man,
who received him upon his spear. The
man and lion rolled together, and were
seen to tear shreds of flesh. Many of
the spectators were sprinkled with blood.
Actee uttered cry Of adieu to her Chris
tian brother. She no longer had de-
fender, but she no longer had an enemy.
The lion survived only long enough for
vengeance; the agony of the executioneer
commenced when that of the victim ter.
AS to the horse, he lay dead,
without being touched by the lion.
Now all eyes were directed to Actee,
whom the death of Silas had left defense.
less Some of the spectators rose to de-
mand her merciiul release, when the cry,
"Sit down, sit down." was heard, for at
the lower steps CRATE was raised, and
tigress crep into the arena.
Hardly escaped from her den, she
crouched to the earth, looking round with
Ierocity, but without inquetude or as
Soon she snuffed the air,
md began to crawl like a serpent to the
place where the horse had fallen; arrived
here, she reared against the CRATE, smell.
ng and biting the bars which he had
touched, rearing immoderatcly examin.
ng the iron, the sand, and the air, for
he absent prey.
Soon the emanations from the dead,
ret warm and palpitating flesh, reached
traight towards the tree against which
lad been enacted the combat between
'ilas and the lion, turning neither to the
light nor to the left, except to pick up
hreds of flesh strewed by the noble ami
nal who had preceded her in the circus.
1t length she came to pool of blood
which the sand had not absorbed, and
'egan to drink like thirsty dog, roaring :
nd raging in proportion as she drank.
When she had finished, she looked round
fresh with sparkling eyes, and this only
Ill she perceived Actee, who, bound to
lie tree, and with closed eyes, awaited
eath without daring to see it come.
Instantly the tigress crouched fat,
Keeping in a manner obliquely towards
er victim, but without losing sight of
er. When about ten PAGES from her
he rose, and with extended neck and /
'idened nostrils, inspired the air which {
anne from the place; then, with one leap, |
leared the space which separated the 9
oung Christian, she fell at her feet; and !
hen the whole amphitheatre, in waiting q
see her torn to pieces, uttered cry Of {
error, by which was evinced the entire 4
lterest which the maiden had inspired c
| the spectators, who had prepared to |
ap their han1s at her death, the tigress {
rouched gentle and fondling as gazelle, '
ttering faint cries of joy, and licking {
he feet OF her former mistress. At these
caressesst the astonished Actee {
pened her eyes, and recognized Phoebe, G
he favorite of Nero. Instantly the cry r
"Mercyl mercy" resounded through 2
lie whole place, for the multitude looked '
pom this gratitude of the tigress as q o
rodigy. Besides, Actee had suffered n
lree trials; and, since she was saved, she C
as free. Thus the changed spirit of the e
'ectators showed one of the transitions t
} natural to mob, from the extreme s.
'uelty to the extreme cemency. 4
The young cavaliers threw down their 81
,ains Of gold, the ladies their chaplets y
flowers; all rose upon the steps, call 81
g npon the slaves to loose the victim. v
n immense crowd was in expectation. a
{ sight of her they burst into applause,
I'd were ready to carry her in triumph; a