Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-04-06

"Will you have your men hoist the
cage on deck ?"
Captain Langdon gave consent to his
request, 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 cas-
lily swayed the large grated box upon
the deck.
The cage was composed of stout teak
wood, strongly bolted and barred, the
front being entirely open, save the
strong iron rods that ran perpendicular
ly from the top to the bottom, 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 snuffed 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 un-
expected tearing, rushing noise, the
heart naturally beats quicker and strong
er, and the nerves are strung by un-
wonted excitement; but when contin-
uous roar, which has for days carried
terror upon its very sound, suddenly
ceases, and leaves a solemn stiffness in
the atmosphere, then it is that the
heart experiences its most fearful change;
for while one is exciting and nerving
in its very nature, the other is enervat-
ing and oppressive.
Thus it was on board the Cremona.
In the strange silence which followed
the ceasing of the monsters movements,
there was something at once startling
and oppressive, and more than one
brave heart sank degree lower. A
fearful suspicion had taken possession
of the men-as they had seen the cage
hoisted on deck, the perpendicular bars
did not seem to be strong enough-they
had not seen them before, for when the
cage was hoisted on board, it was entire
ly 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 indi-
stinctively loosened the heavy sheath
knife by his side, and then seized the
wheel with frmer grasp.
For three minutes this silence lasted.
Not word had been spoken, only the
men looked at each other with ominous
shakes of the head, and then seemed to
think of the defense. At the end of
three minutes sound was heard from
the cage as though its occupant was
drawing long, half stifed breath, and
in moment more it was followed by
slight rubbing against the back of the
woodwork, and a 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
Simultaneous 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
arother-and the Royal Bengal Tiger
stood unbound upon the deck! With
one leap he passed between the bars of
his cage and cleared distance of sew
eral yards. For some time-it seemed
an age Of chaos to those who watched
him-the tiger lay crouched where he
had first alighted, 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
single object, and as he lowered his
huge head almost to the deck he gath
cred 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 slight stihed 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 thau to raise his eyes
to the elevated position of the child,
aud draw his legs for frmer leap.
Captain Laugdon thought of the
guns, but through what certainly ap.
peared to be gross carelessness, there
was not one of them loaded. A thous-
and thoughts may have flashed across
the minds of the men, but for the mo-
ment they stood in a 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 cf 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 face as white
as marble he strode out upon the quarter
deck.
For an instant be stood still. Not
a muscle 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 Cap
tain Langdon. "Here comes loaded
muskets. Stand back and let the men
fire p'
"Keep your bullets till you need
them y returned White. withnnt nou