The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-05-14

alarm, save in the breast of Harry White.
1t was pleasant afternoon. after the
ship had entered the trade winds the
sheets and tacks and the braces remained
just as they had been Delayed forty EIGHT
hours before, and the sky was as clear
and cloudless as an infants heart. The
captain and the owner stood abaft the
wheel, Harry White had the helm, and
most of the men were hanging about the
deck, while little Mary Bowditch, as
blithe and happy as an uncaged lark, was
sporting among the coils of rigging that
hung from the fife>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. Brow
ditch, addressing one of his Malay SER
wants who stood near the starboard gang
way "what is the matter with the tiger?''
Kouli answered unhesita'ingly:
"He wants the ligb: and fresh air, sir
''T'hen 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 p
Captain Langdop gave consent to this
request and IN few moments button
was rugged to the mainstay and hooked
into the stout iashings of the cage, when
the men seized the rope and easily 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 iron rods that
ran perpendicularly from the top to the
bottom it fronted towards the bul~arks,
SO that the men might pass by the opposite
side Of the deck without disturbing the in
mate.
For some time the tiger seemed much
pleased with the charge of his situation,
which he manifested by the peculiar man
ner in which he snuffed up the fresh air
and lasEed about 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 long continued silence is
suddenly broken by some unexpected
tearing, 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 carried terror upon its very sound,
suddenly ceases, and leaves a solemn still~
ness in the atmosphere, thon it is that The
heart experiences lis most fearful change;
for while one is exciting and nerving in It's
very nature, the other is enervatinc an
oppressive.
Thus ii was on board the Cremona. In
the strange silence which followed tire
ceasing of the monsters movements, there
was something at once startling and OPP
pressive, and more than ore brave heart
sank degree lower. A fearful suspicion
hal taken possession of the men as they
had seen the cage hoisted on deck tire
perpendicular bars did not seem 10 be
strong enough They had not seen them
before, for when the cage was hoisted on
board it was entirely closed up; but Though
each held the suspicion yet no one dared TO
give the thought utterance. Harry White :
heart sank for moment but be instinct
lively loosened the heavy sheath knife by
his side, and then, seized the wheel with a
firmer grasp.
For three minutes this silence lasted
Not a word had been spoken, only the men
looked at each other with omiuous shakes
of the head, and then seemed to think of
defence. At the end of three minutes a
sound was heard from the cage as though
its occupant was drawing long, half
stifed breath, and in moment more was
followed by n slight rubbing against the
back of the wood work and gentle gather
ing 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 ex-
claimed:
''T'he tiger! the tiger -
But Kouh Thesan spoke too late for,
simultaneous with his own cry, there
sounded a low howl from the cage-a
deep scratch of the firm set claws, a
crashing of the iron bars, one against the
oiher-ald the royal Bengal tiger stood
unbound upon the deck
Wi Ia one leap he lad psssed between
the bars of the cage and cleared distance
of several yards. For some time-ii
seemed an age of chaos TO those who
watched him-the tiger lay cro4chrd
where he first aliShted snd while he
lashed his sides with his tail, he rolled
his eyes round upon the crew. At lergth
he seemed TO fasten upon a single OH ct,
and as he lowered his huge head almost
to the deck, he gail cred himself for q
spring
The little Mary, as she tremhlinPIy nes-
tied to her fathers side, was the object
upon which The tiger had set his fata
eyes and with a slight stifed cry of an
guish Mr.. Bowditch gathered her to hi.
bosom and clasped his arms tightly around
her. But the terrible animal seemed tt
take no notice of the movement, other
than to raise his eyes to the elevated posi-
tion of the child and draw his legs for .
tirmer leap.
Captain Langdon thought of the guns
but through what certainly appear ed tC
be gross carelessness, there was not ont