The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-10-25

while behind me followed panthers;black
bears, hyenas, zebra, ostrich, moose, and

bears, hyenas, zebra, ostrich, moose, and
monkeys.s
The wild beasts were hungry, and my
tiger was getting to be savage. He grow.-
ed and snarled, and could hear him tear
ing at the bars. By and by he made a
new movement. You remember, reader,
that told you the scutttle or hatch on
top Of the tigers cage was open. This
hole was about two feet square, and guar
ded with traverse bars, threeTunning one
way and three the other. The tiger leap
ed up and caught these bars with his
claws. I turned and saw that he still
hung by them, and that his weight bent
with them. 1 took the butt of my whip
and beat him off, He grewled ferocious-
Ily for a while and then remained while
Iquiet.> at length, however, he commenc-
ed another butt, and pretty soon caught
the bars of the scuttle.
There was terrible cracking eff wood,
and just as / turned the buttof my whip,
the bars came out, and the hole was en-
tirely openl 1 stopped my horses, and
then sprang up to shut the trap door;
but the tiger was quicker than | was. AS
l reached out my hand he came up with
a furious bound, catching the outside Of
the cage with his claws, and bringing full
half his body out through the opening
[ struck at him with the butt Of my whip
in hopes to drive him back; but he caught
the handle in his teeth, and 1 tried to
pull it away from him. That was about
the most foolish thing ever did. If
had let go the whip all might have been
we'll; but the moment / began to pull, !
gave the tiger lift that helped him out
of his hole. He was already about even
ly balanced, and as gave that pull upon
his head, I helped to overcome the lack
of rest for his feet.
i He pulled, and / pulled. I pulled be-
cause that whip seemed to be my only
weapon, and I wanted it; and when saw
nv mistake, it was too late. te rectify it.
The brute had gained a balance over the
edge of the opening, and in moment
more he was upon the top of the cage
without bond of any kind.
At that pariiculaf moment l felt as
though [ should like to resign my posi-
tien as driver of that caravan. What
could I do? There 1 was upon my foot
board, with no weapon at hand, and the
Tiger loose upon the top of the cage be-
fore me- [ am free to confess that [ was
sore afraid. In fact. was SO stricken
! with fear, that for few moments l had
no power to move. was utterly paral-
wed. I knew that the tiger was hungry
| and that he was mad. Bet [ think my
fear saved me. I stood upon my board
and gazed directly into the beasts eye
, gazed without moving muscle-gazeo
because 1 had not the power to do other
wise. By and by my senses came to me
: and was beginning to plan for escape
when heard Mr.. Pelby's voice. He had
seen the trouble and had hurried to nay
assistance.
sDon't tako your eyes off him, ht
cried. Watch him for your life."
1t flashed upon me that had been do
t ing just the right thing, and good por
! ton of my strength and confidence re
E turned to me. The tiger was upon hi
g launches, watching me narrowly, ant
e seeming to be trying to avoid me. [ d
e not say that felt easy or assured; for tt
7 tell the truth, had no great amount o
3 confidence in that fellows good intentions
believed if he could get my back towar
e him he would make quick work with me
e But relief came Before my quakin
r eyes had quite given out, Mr.. Pelby wa
/. by my side; and as he stepped upon tn
j footboard he whispered to me to &c
e down.
It "It's a risk" heard him say; shut T.
e risk much more before I'll lose tha
e beast"
n l leaped upon the ground and hastene
to the heads of my horses. The Who'll
d train had stopped and all the drivers SAY
i what was going on. I could see him a
if he stood in my place upon the beard IAN
[ could also see the tiger. The bea:
II shrank lower down as he saw his maste
: and Pelby stepped upon the top of tt
g cage.
II go down, sirl Down with you'll sal
d Pelby; and as he spoke he raised his viii
r and gave the tiger cut across the shou
ytders. The beast hesitated and growle
' but the master was firm. The whip W,
raised again, and another blow was strucl
of "Down, sir! Down | say9'
IN The tiger turned and placed his forepay
le upon the edge of the opening, and OF
3 more cut sent him back to his den. NJ
Pelby quickly closed the trap, and boil
ed it down; and when he turned towa
Up me, saw that he was as pale as DEATH
It He acknowledged that he had faced Il
monster without full assurance of b
e. power; but he had resolved to try the e
ly pertinent, and the result showed that
er had good share of nerve.
ed In half an hour after this we reached
Id settlement where we obtained some fre
r. meat; and when | saw the tiger seize a.
be tear the tough lump which was thrown
's- him, [ thanked my stars that those ella
and those jaws had not found work up
III me.
on I remained witE the menagerie un
N. we reached New Orleans-some t
months in all--and you may be assur
at that never allowed the rations for the
his animals to fall short again.
We: = --r--7-7 - ---7---- -
"And ye hav taken teetoa
nm pledge have YEP" said somebody to
,xt Irishman. "Indade l have, and I'm |
zee ashamed of it aither." Sand did l
.y Paul tell Timothy to take little wine
&c