Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-05-04
VOL. XIX. NEW SERIES. VOL. xxi.

finitively have secured him the victory The
courage of the poor dog had completely won
the sympathy of everybody on the terrace.
While the hon, now foaming with rage, was
making ready for another leap, n rope was
tossed to the poor dog, whose supphcatinG
| eyes were turned for mercy to the terrace
The dog took the rope in his mouth, and was
rapidly hauled up. The lion, who under
stood too late the designs of the spectators
in vain made prodigious bounds. The dog
was out of his reach. The dog was no soon
er safe on the terrace than he let go the rope
| and took to his heels at full speed.
just as the lion fell upon the ground after
his last wild leap in air, which increased his
rage, the Sicilian entered the pit through the
same door by which the dog had made his
appearance The Sicilian Was calm and
proud, and looked magnifcently i'll his
splendid costume. His club Was in his hand.
Excited as the crowd We're by the scenes they
had Just witnessed, no sooner was the Sicil-
ian perceived than Il deathlike silence reign
ed. The Sicilian walked rapidly TO the cor
ner where the dog had first stood, and. lean
ing on his club, awaited the lion. The lat
ter, blinded by fury. did not at first perceive
him. Presently the lion turned, and his
eyes flashed fire, so delighted evidently was
he to discover other prey that would satisfy
his hunger and his rage. Nevertheless, there
evidently was moment of vague uneasiness
felt by the hon; he slowly backed several
feet, as if conscious that he had a formidable
adversary before him, and looked sideways,
not with full face, at the Sicilian. The latter,
on the contrary, fixed concentrated eyes on
the lion; and, with his body slightly bent
forward, observed every, even the least, mo-
tion the lion made. The spectators now saw
that of the two adversaries the lion was the
frightened one, but, as they compared the
feeble resources of the man, who had q club
for all his weapons, with the powerful body
of the lion whose bounds made the very
earth tremble. they dared not hope that
courage would win the battle, which seemed
inevitably to belong to brute strength. The
lion was too excited and too hungry to re-
main undecided for any length of time. He
retreated for some minutes, as If TO reflect
then he abruptly moved forward. but he went
obliquely, as if to deceive his adversary. The
Sicilian did not bulge. He kept his eyes
fixed. in as powerful stare as he could mas
ter, on the lion. Furious. the lion bounded =!
roaring fearfully. The Sicilian |
moved slightly aside, and, before the lion had |
reached the ground by his side, the Sicilians |
terrible club had fallen on the lions head |
with blow heard by every spectator. The
hon rolled over and over, an inert mass. lie
was not dead; he was only stunned. The
Sicilian, without changing place, whirled his
club over his head, to give the lion the death
blow. The spectators, stupeiied by admira-
tion at so much coolness, adroitness, and
strength. awaited in breathless silence the
fall of the uplifted club. The Bey rose, and
by gesture implored mercy for his lion. The
Sicilian thereupon exclaimed: "You must
give me 1,000 golden ducats more if you
would have me spare him." The Bey replied
Agreed" The lion still lay on the ground
liieless. The Sicilian bowed to
signify he was confident the Bey would keep
his bargain. and slowly retired from the pit,
never once taking his eye off the lion. The
1000 golden ducats were faithfully paid. The
lion slowly revived. The Siciian's prowess
is still remembered at Tunis