The Shasta courier., 1867-03-23

infants heart.
The Captain and the owner stood lust
abatt the wheel. Harry White had the
helm, and most of the men were lounging
about the deck, while Mary Bowditch as
blithe and happy an uncaged lark, was
sporting among the coils of rigging that
hung from the life rail. For several hours
the tiger had been unusually restive, and at
the present moment was sending forth the
most dismal howlings, which at length rose
to such pitch that little Mary started away
from her usual playing ground, and crept up
to the side of her father.
"Come here. Kouli," said Mr.. Bowditch,
addressing one of the Malay servants, who
stood near the starboard gangway what
is the matter with the tiger ?''
Koul had professed to understand
thoroughly the training Of the tiger, and for
that very reason he had been chosen to ac
company the owner to the States Now per-
haps all that the Malay professed was true,
but one thing is certain-it is a very differ.
ent affair to take care of full grown tiger
on shipboard, from the same office on shore,
but nevertheless he answered. unhesitating-
ly-
Z" He wants the light and fresh air, sir"
"Then let him have it' said Mr.. Bow
ditch. And turning to the Captain, he con-
tinued-
will you have your men hoist the cage
on deck ?''
Captain Langdon gave consent to this re
quest, and in few moments burton was
rugged to the mainstay and hooked into the
stout lashings of the cage, when the men
seized the rope and easily sw Iyed the large
grated box upon the deck.
The cage was composed of stout teakwood,
strongly bolted and barred, the front being
entirely open. save the strong iron rods that
ran perpendicularly from the top to the bot
tom, and it was deposited in the gangway, it
fronted toward the bulwarks, so that the
men might pass by the opposite side of the
deck without disturbing the inmate.
For some time the tiger seemed much
pleased with the change of his situation,
which he manifested by the peculiar manner
in which he snutfed up the fresh air and
lashed around his tail, but in the course of
about fifteen minutes his lashing ceased, and
soon afterwards all within the cage became
as quiet as the grave.
Whenever very long continued silence is
suddenly broken by some unexp xpected tear
ing, rushing noise, the heart naturally beats
quicker and stronger, and the nerves are
strung by unwonted excitement; but when
a continuous roar, which has for days car.
ried terror upon its very sound, suddenly
ceases, and leaves solemn stilnes in the
atmosphere, then it is that the heart expert
ences its most fearful change; for while one
is exciting and nerving in its very nature,
the other is enervating and oppressive.
Thus it was on board the Cremona. In
the strange silence which followed the ceas-
ing of the monsters movements, there was
something at once startling and oppressive,
and more than one brave heart sank a degree
lower. A fearful suspicion had taken pos
session of the men-as they had seen the
cage hoisted on deck, the perpendicular bars
did not seem to be strong enough-they lad
not seen them before, for when the cage was
hoisted on board, it entirely closed up
but though each held the suspicion, yet no
one dared to give the thought utterance.-
Harry Whites heart sank for moment,
but he indistinctively loosened the heavy
sheathknife by his side, and then seized the
wheel with firmer grasp.
For three minutes this silence lasted. Not
a word had been spoken, only the men look
ed at each other with ominous shakes of the
head, and then seemed to think of the de.
fense At tie end of three minutes sound
was heard from the cage as though its occu.
pant was drawing a long, halt stihed breath,
and in a moment more it was followed by
slight rubbing against the back of the wood
work, and gentle gathering of the feet
For the first time the Malay started back
and trembled, and then in the sharp. quick
cry of the jungle hunter, he exclaimed
The tiger the tiger !"
But Kouli Thasen spoke too late, for SIM
ultaneous with his own cry there sounded
low howl from the cage-a deep scratch of
the firm set claws-a crashing of the iron
bars, one against another-and the Royal
Bengal Tiger stood unbound upon the deck
With ore leap he had passed between the
bars of his cage and cleared a distance of
several yards. For some time-it seemed an
age Of chaos to those who watched hm-the
tiger lay crouched where he had first alight-
ed, and while he lashed his sides with his tail.
he rolled his swapping eyes round upon the
crew. At length they seemed to fasten
upon a single object, and as be lowered his
huge head almost to the deck, he gathered
himself for spring.
The little Mary, as she tremblingly nestled
to her fathers side, was the object upon
which the tiger had set his fatal eyes, and
with a slight stifed cry of anguish, Mr.
Bowditch gathered her to his bosom, and
clasped his arms tightly around her. But
the terrible animal seemed to take no notice
Of the movement, other than to raise his eyes
to the elevated position of the child, and
draw his legs for frmer leap.
Captain Langdon thought of the guns.
but through what certainly appeared to be
gross carelessness, there was not one of them
loaded. A thousand thoughts may have
flashed across the minds of the men, but for
the moment they stood in body like so
many statues, but ere the Captain could give
an order, or the men find presence of mind
to secure the means of defense, all eyes were
turned from the crouching tiger to the person
of Harry White.
He had lashed the helm, and drawn his
long, sharp knife from its sheath. A piece
of tarpaulin was wound around his left arm.
and with a face as white as marble he strode
out upon the quarter deck
For an instant be stood still Not a mus.
Gle moved in his whole system, but the fire
that flashed from his eyes was as bright and
sparkling as that which shone in the orbs OF
the beast before him.
Back. Harry, back ~ shouted CAPTAIN
Langdon. Here comes loaded muskets.-
Stand back, aud let the men fire !"
: Keep your bullets till you need them. ,
returned White, without moving his ewes
from the tiger; . must do my duty first
There Is blood upon the demon that calls t.
me for vengeance. See-see th1se hell sem