Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-10-18

tanner stfOde through the circle, dis
appeard behind the cage, and with
such rapidity as 20 astonish the audi
enee, stood within the compartment
where the huge lion was lying and
the agile leopards leaping about, and
had placed his child between the huge
claws of the great brute, and size was
playfully toying with his shaggy
name.
For a time he made the leopards
leap about him as kittens, jumping
from corner to corner, resting upon
his broad shoulders, bounding lightly
over the extended whip. Then he
gave his attention to the mother lion,
opened her immense jaws, placed his
arm and thrust his head between
them, raised his fairy-like child upon
its back, and made it march around
with her. Then he prepared to throw
the two cages into one.
,''Let Inez come out now," whis-
pered the attendant uneasily. "You
have done enough already to keep
your promise, and the audience won't
know the difference"
''No, l will go through. Mind
what / told you, and have things
ready in case there should be trouble,
though / don't expect any," Then
he continued aloud, and so as to be
plainly heard by everybody: "Hand
me that pail of blood"
A cold shiver, supernatural awe
appeared to pass through the frame
of all as the vessel, dripping with
crimson drops, was given to him, and
more than one asked themselves if the
man was mad to thus not only risk
his own life, but that of his beautiful
child. And when he loosened and
thrust aside the partition, and the
fierce lioness and sleek tiger came
bounding in, their breath was abso-
lutely suspended, and their hearts
momentarily ceased to beat.
Down.
The tiger obeyed, and the foot OF
the lion tanner was upon his neck.
up!
Ana the leoparos "'-e purring like
great cats upon his shoulders, .,.;Ie
the lioness lay crouching with he
tawny paws thrust through the bar
and growing severely.
"For mercy sake let her alone,
whispered his attendant, land min
not to kick over the pail. If tn
blood should be spilled, it would b
all over with you both-all the me
in the world couldn't save you.''
'Stand ready, but keep still. Th
brute shall mind"
His child was sitting on the back {
the lion, and smiling in that der G
horrors. Her confidence in her fathe
was sublime-was as perfect as he
love. She never dreamed of fea
when he was near to protect, an,
while the lookerson shuddered, sh
innocently deemed it pleasant pas
| time.
DOWN.
The leopar,ls leaped to their corne
and crouched down.
''Come!"
The lioness grumbling arose, crawl
ing sullenly to his feet, rose and lait
her great claws upon his shoulders
making him swerve with her weight
and raising her terrible head upon {,
level with his own. Slowly and slow
ly they turned round as in waltzing
and low mutterings of the beast be
coming more plainly audible ever,
moment, and her yellow, feline eye'
with hidden fires.
With an amazing exhibition o
power he wrestled with, tripped an,
threw her from him, and the canvas.
tent rang again. But instantly sh,
was upon her feet, lashing her side
with her prehensile tail, drawing
back her lips so as to show her teeth
and uttering the deepest and fierces
growls. =
''For the love of mercy. hand on
your child, Joel" said the attend
ant. -.....
ssWait moment. / shall be don,
very quickly.N
The crowning feat was yet to come
1t was one upon which he had be
slowed much time, and upon whic
he prided himself-it was q tablea
of wild beast, with manhood an
childish beauty for the central al
traction. Is
! He stepped to the corner, led tn
monster lion forth into the centre {
the cage, made him lie down, place
the little girl upon him and stoo
astride. Then shrill whistle brougf
/ the chectah leopards bounding upo
his shoulders and standing up wit
paws crossed above his head, and til
black tiger erect upon his left, an
!. throttled with his hand. But tn
lioness failed to do his bidding an
take her place upon. his right. Sh
lay in the act of springing, but Ii
lie distance.
II There was no movement, and til
whip was raised and fell heavily upo
4 sfNho$ xvap oil that WIS