The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-08-03

ed bis attendant, "and mind not kick over
that pail. If the blood should be spilled,
it would be over with you both. All the
men in the world couldn't save you."
STAND ready, but keep still. The brute
shall mind"
His child was sitting on the back of the
powerful lion, and smiling in that den of
horrors. Her confidence in her father
was sublime-was as perfect as her love. She
never dreamt of fear when he was near to
protect, and while the lockers on shuddered,
she innocently deemed it pleasant pastime.
"Downl"
The leopard leaped to either side and
crouched down.
Gomez
The lioness grumblingly arose, crawled
suddenly to his feet, rose and laid her great
claws upon his shoulders, making him
swerve with her weight, and raising her terri
BILE head upon level with his own. Slow
ly and slowly they turned round as If waltz
ing, the low mutterings of the beast becom.
ing more plainly audible every moment, and
her yellow feline eyes swapping with hidden
fires.
With an amazing exhibition of strength,
he wrestled with, tripped and threw her
from him, and the canvass tent rang again.
But instantly she was upon her feet, lashing
her sides with her prehensible tail, drawing
back her lips SO as to show her teeth, and ut
tering the deepest and fiercest of growls.
"For the love of mercy, hand out your
child, Joe," said his attendant.
!. "Wait moment. shall be done very
! quickly"
, The crowning feat was yet to come. 1t
was one upon which he had bestowed much
time and upon which he prded himself
was taoleau of wild beasts, with manhood
and childish beauty for the central attac-
ton.
He stepped up to the corner, led the mon
ster lion forth into the centre of the cage,
made him lie down, placed the little girl
upon him, and stood astride. Then shrill
whistle brought the cheetah leopards bound
: ing upon his shoulders and stand up with
paws crossed above his head, and the black
tiger erect upon his left, and throttled with
his hand. But the lioness failed to do his
bidding and take her place upon his right.
She lay in the act of sprnging and at but a
little distance.
Come"
There was no movement, and the whip
D was raised and fell heavily upon her head.
That was all that was needed to awaken her
: latent ire, and with roar like that given
: in her native forest, she sprang with almost
n resistless force towards him. A sharp, sting.
g ing blow on the bridge of the nose for mo.
ment cowed her, and she might have been
vt conquered, had she not partially fell upon
t and upset the pail and deluged the floor Of
l. the cage in blood
Then all became the widest commotion-
the most terrible and savage sounds. Ev
1t cry beast sprung down, Tapped the blood
+ and then turned upon him. Even the vet.
eran lion appeared to forget the long year
d of training, and something of his young for
est life blazed forth.
Amberly comprehended all in an instant
and the father triumphed over the actor. HI
IS snatched up the now terrified and screaming
d child, sprang with her to the door, thrust
r her into the hands of the watchful attend
e ant, and would have followed had not the Ii
oness grappled and drawn him back, rendins
n his shoulders with her sharp claws, and caus
IS ing the blood to stream over his rich dress
He was fighting against most desperat,
IS odds. knew it, backed into corner, ant
= called for his irons. One, red-hot at the enc
o was handed to him, but at the first strok,
n the loness sent it whirling, and her sharI
teeth almost met for moment his thigh
= "Hand me something sharp with which
l. can brain the brute y
Everything upon which hands could b,
laid was thrust to him, but he failed to reacl
them, and the danger was becoming NOR,
. and more imminent. The blood had beef
u Tapped up clean-all were mad with desire
% the tiger and the leopard crouching upol
him. Then the majesty of command assert
~ ed ITSELF
"Come, Samson"
II The old lion came forward at the words
and seemed to comprehend that somethin,
was wrong, thrust himself between his mas
:, ter and his raging mate, and when she turn
ed upon him, sent her rolling with q blow o
=. his great paw.
a The Lion Tanner might have escaped bu
|. bleeding, wounded as he was, he would nc
retreat, and turned his attention to separa
a ting the now tangled mass of fighting ami
e mails. Picking up one leopard after anothe
q he drew them into farther corner of tn
h cage, dragging the tiger, with the liones
1t clinging to it and tearing its glossy hide
o thither, tore open its paws by main strengt
is hurled it hack and shut the psrtition, turr
e ed, reeled to the door, fell upon it aud VIZ
+ dragged through to safety, even with the |
oness rattling behind him as it was closin
D. A few steps taken, and the Lion Tam,
+ fell fainting by the side of his already insei
l. sible wife, who lay with her affrighted chi
ID hugged closely TO her scarcely beatin
le heart.
81 Then the silence that had been as dea
~ was broken by the most tumultuous shout
+" and breath was drawn again, and half fair
IL ing women and fear-psisied men felt a.
mountain had been lifted from the
hearts.
\ Lame, torn and weak. the Lion Tanner e
I; tered the cage the next day before the me
unprecedented crowd, it having been advt
T tised that he would do so in his bloo
clothes, but never again could he be temp
- ed to take child or pail of blood behind t
bars.
nd
A story is told of two New England dc
m. cons, between whom bitter feud had 10
as existed concerning some contested poi
,as Neither would yield, and the matter thre
ed ened to be handed down to the next gene