The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-08-29
told him the beast was becoming say.

powerful as he might have been in hi
native jungle. l did not feel easy.
suggested that we had better kill one
of the dogs. But Pelby would not lis
ten to this. He knew that the larger
beasts were hungry, and that they
would kick up great fuss; but he be.
lieved they would stand it for some
hours.
" was not 30 much of the welfare o.
the animals that l thought, as of my
own welfare. l suggested to Pelby
that the cage ] drove was one Of the
strongest.
He laughed at me.
"Why," said he, "the tiger might
bump away month in that cage, and
he couldn't start bar"
But was not so sure of that, / be-
lieved that some of the bars were al.
ready started. The jolting of the car
avan over the rough roads gradually
loosened the hold of the wood upon
the iron; and l told Mr.. Pelby that if
he could hear the jarring which / had
heard, ,he would not be quite soconident
of the tigers powerlessness.
"Pooh!" said he, laughing at me: elf
you are so easily frightened as that,
you will never do to drive leading
caravan. III put you on to the monk
eys."
didn't relish that kind of of threat
at all; and l told Mr.. Pelby that I'd
drive his tiger as long as he had til
ger to drive. unless / found something
better to do.
We started on again. Jackson's
Inn was twenty miles distant, and that
was our next place of exhibition. 1t
was not past three in the afternoon,
and as the road was very rough, we
had good chance Of being on the
move until after dark. Mr.. Pelby led
with the four horse caravan; next fol-
lowed the cages, containing pair Of
lions; next, full-grown grizzly bear;
next, pair of lcopards; and next come
my caravan with the Royal Bengal
tiger; while behind me followed panth-
ers, black berrs, hyenas, zebro, ostrich,
moose and monkeys.
The wild beasts were hungry, and
my tiger was getting to be savage
He growied and snarled, and l could
hear him tearing at the bars. BY and
by he made new movement. You
remember, readers, told you, that the
scuttle, or hatch, on top OF the tigers
cage was open. This hole was ABOUT
two feet square, and guarded with
transverse bars, three running one
way, and three the other. The tiger
leapt up and caught these bars with his
claws. / turned and saw that he still
hung by them, and that his weight
DcuG JntIu. Uvvh .nv vu,s Vr,.y uhip
and beat him off. He growled feroceiv
ously for q while, and then remained a
while quiet AT length, however, he
commenced another bout, and pretty
soon caught the bar of the scuttle.-
There was terrible cracking of wood;
and just as l turned the butt Of my
whip, the bars came out, and the hole
was entirely open! l stopped my hor-
ses, and then sprang up and shut up
the trap door; but the tiger was quick
er than | was. AS / reached out my
hand he came up with q furious bound
catching the outside of the cage with
his claws, and bringing full half his
weight out through the opening l
struck at him with the but OF my whip,
in hopes to drive him back; but he
caught the handle with his teeth, and
tried to pull it away from him. That
was about the most foolish thing ever
did. If had let 90 the whip all might
have been well; but the moment / be-
gan to pull, l gave the tiger lift that
helped him out from his hole. He was
already about evenly balanced, and as
| gave that pull upon his head helped
to overcome the lack of a rest for his
feet He pulled, and l pulled. pull
ed because that whip seemed my only
weapon, and l wanted it, and when /
saw my mistake, it was too late to
rectify it. The brute had gained bal
ancc over the edge of the opening, and
in a moment more he was upon the
top of tie cage, without bond of any
kind.
AT that particular moment / felt as
though | shoIld| like to resign my pre-
sent position as driver of that caravan.
What could / do? There / was upon
my foot-board, with no weapon at
hand, and the tiger loose upon the top
of the cage before me. l am free to
confess that 1 was sore afraid. In
fact, was SO stricken with fear, that
for a few moments i had no power to
move. / was utterly paralyzed. II
knew that the tiger was hungry, and
that he was mad. But / think my fear
saved me. ] stood upon MY board,
gazed directly into the beasts eyes
gazed without ,hovinga muscle-gazed
because | had not the power to do
otherwiee. BY and by my senses came
to me, and was beginning to plan for
escape, when l heard Mr., iPelby's
voice. He had seen the trouble and
had hurried to my assistance.
"Don't take your eyes off him." he
cried. "W latch him for your lifel''
1t flashed upon me that / had been
doing just the right thing, and a good
portion of my strength and confidence
returned to me. The tiger was upon
his launches, watching me narrowly,
and seeming to be trying to avoid mc.
l do not say that felt easy or assured;
for, to tell the truth, had no great
amount of confidence in that fellows
good intentions. ! believed if he could
get to my back towards him he would
made quick work with me. But relief
came. Before my 'quacking eyes had
quite given out, Mr.. Pelby was by may
side; and as he,stepped upon the foot