The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-10-31
The leopards leaped to either cor.

ner and crouched down.
Come !"
The lioness grumbliugly arose,
crawled sullenly to his feet, rose and
laid her great claws upon his shoul-
ders, making him swerve with her
weight, and raising her terrible head
upon a level with his own. Slowly
and slowly they turned around as if
waltzing, the low muttering of the
beast becoming 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 aud the can.
vas tent rang again. But instantly
she was upon her feet, lashing her
sides with her prehensile tail, draw.
ing back her lips so as to show her
teeth and uttering the tiercest and
deepest growls
"For the love of mercy hand out
your child, Joe," said the attendant.
"Wait a 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 be prided himself-a tableau
of wild beasts, with manhood and
beauty for the central attrac-
ton.
He stepped to the corner, led the
lion forth into the centre Of
the cage, made him lie down, placed
the little girl upon him and stood
astride Then a shrill whistle
brought the cheetah leopards bound
ing upon his shoulder and standing
up with paws crossed above his head,
the black tiger erect upon his left and
throttled with his hand. But the
ioness failed to do his bidding and
AXE her place upon his right. She
ay in the act of springing and at but
4 little distance.
"Come ~
There was no movement and the
whip was raised and fell heavily up
IN her head That was all that was
,eeded to awaken her latent ire, and
with roar like that given in her ma
i've forest she sprang with almost re-
'istless force towards him A sharp
singing blow on the ridge of the
lose FIR a moment cowed her, and
'he might have been conquered had
The not partially fallen upon and up
Jet the pail and deluged the floor Of
be cage with blood
Then all became the widest CON-
notiOn-.be most terrible aud saw
Ige sounds. Every beast sprang
lowD, tapping the blood, and then
urned upon him. Even the veteran
ion appeared to forget the long years
# training, and something of his
'oung forest life blazed forth
Amberly comprehended all in al
Instant, and the father triumphed
'ver the actor. He snatched up the
low terrified and screaming child,
prang with her to the door, and
hrust her into the arms of the faith
al attendant, and would have follow
d had not the lioness grappled and
rawn him back, rending mis- shoul. !
Iers with her sharp claws, and caas-
ng the blood to stream over bis
ich dress.
He was fighting against most des-
crate odds, knew it, backed into a
orner and called for his irons. One,
ed hot at the end, was handed to
i'm, but at the first stroke the lioness
EFT it whirling, and her sharp teeth |
lmost met for a moment in his
high.
Hand ne something with which
0 brain the brute !"
Everything upon which hands
ould be laid was thrust to him, but |
e failed to reach them, and the dan
er was becoming more and more |
nminent The blood had been lapp. |
d up clean-all were mad with de-
ire the tiger and the leopard crouch
d upon him. Then the majesty of
ommand asserted itself.
"Come, Sampson p
The old lion came forward at the
7ords, seemed to comprehend that
was wrong, thrust himself
etween his master and his raging
late, and when she turned upon him,
ent her rolling with blow of his
reat paw.
The Lion Tanner might have es-
aped, but bleeding, wounded as be
Ias be would not retreat, and turned
is attention 10 the now tangled
lass of fighting animals Picking
p one leopard after another he drew
hem into a further corner of the cage,
Raging the tiger with the lioness
Iinging to it and tearing its glossy
ide, thither, tore open its jaws by
lain strength, hurled it back, and
osed the partition ! turned, reeled
, the floor and fell upon it, and was
trough to safety, even with the lion
IS rafting behind him as it was
osing.
A few steps further and the Lion
amer fell fainting by the side Of his
READY insensible wife, who lay with
er afrighted child hugged close to
er scarcely beating heart.
The silence that had been as
cath was broken oy the most tn.
ultuous shouts, and breath was
rawn again, aud half-fainting wo-
en, and fear palsied men felt as if a
ogntain had been lifted of their
earts
Lame, torn and weak the Lion
amer entered the cage next day be-
re the most unprecedented crowd.
having been advertised that he
ould do so in bis bloody clothes,
1t never could he be tempted to take
lid or pail Of blood behind the
Irs.
Brigham Young I'm spirit Land. Il
Brigham Young badn't been in the