The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-09-24

had been thrown from one house to an
other, and upon this arch number of
troopers stood awaiting the opportunity
now presented, for as the horse, with
head and tail erect, and wildly glaring
eyes, searching upon every side for fresh
victims, passed beneath the arch, rope
skillfully thrown settled upon his neck,
choked and threw him.
The next day the king ordered the
man-eater to be turned into the arena
with Burrhea, his finest Bengal tiger.
The arena was courtyard about sixty
yards square, surrounded by buildings,
with veranda below and a gallery
above.
Fhe front of this veranda was closed
by heavy bamboo railing, and behind
IL, in a space lust below the royal bal
cony, the ladies of the harem, or as they
are called in Hindoostanee, the purdah-
beebees, meaning literally curtain ladies,
rs distinguished from the poorer class of
females, were allowed to peep as they
could at the combat.
The man-eater had been enticed into
the inclosure by means of a country
horse of small value, to whom he mani
tested no animosity, but seemed to re-
gard with contemptuous indulgence as
creature not, indeed, of his own kind,
but sufficiently near it to secure him
from the ferocious attacks he reserved
for the inferior race called man.
While the horses sported together,
Burrhea's cage was brought into the
veranda, just opposite where the king
and his court were now seated, door
in the bamboo railing was thrown open,
and the front of the cage raised.
Burrhea, who had been kept without
food or drink for the last twenty-four
hours, waited for no second bidding, but
leaped ut one bound fromthe cage down
to the middle of the courtyard, lashing
his sides with his long tail, and glaring
furiously at the horses, while his glossy
and beautifully striped coat shone like
satin, contrasting strongly with the
lrowsy hair OF the tattoo, or native horse,
and making even the man-eater's we'll
kept hide look dull and rough in COM
parison.
Glancing stealthily about him for
moment, the tiger commenced stealing
toward the horses.
Admee- -kanawallah fixed his eyes
steadily upon the eyes of his opponent,
and not for an instant did he take them
off. Standing in an easy attitude, one
foot slightly advanced, his head lowered,
his ears fiat upon his neck, he awaited
the attack, but Burrhea, daunted, per-
haps, by that steady gaze, swerved from
the direct line of his approach and sidled
toward the tattoo, who, paralyzed with
fear, seemed incapable of making the
least effort either for escape or resistance.
Arriving at the proper distance, Bur-
rhea sprang, knocked his victim fat,
aligh; ed upon his side, and, with his
teeth inserted in the poor creatures
neck, greedily drank its blood.
1t will only make Burrhea the more
savage" said the king, gleefully rubbing
his hands, and the courtiers dutifully
assented, exchanging glances of appro
baton and pleasure before turning to en-
10y the further expected sport.
At length Burrhea was satisfied, or
| else no more blood was to be had, and
taking his claws out of the dead animal,
and shaking himself as he did so, he be-
gan to creep stealthily around the court
! yard like cat stealing n march upon II
mouse. He made no noise whatever,
raising and placing his huge paws as
silently as a rose leaf flutters to the
ground.
1t was not scene to be forgotten.
| The king, with his courtiers, both Eu
ropean and Indian, about him in the
gayly y-decorated gallery above, the eyes
and figures of the servants dimly seen
peering through the railing of che We
randa below, Burrhea making his
stealthy rounds. while in the center of
the courtyard stood the man-eater, slow
ly turning, as the tiger moved, so us al
ways to keep his eyes fixed upon the
glaring eyes Of his opponent, his fOreleg
still advanced and slightly bent, his
name bristling, and his ears now erect
and defiant.
The profound silence was interrupted
only by the grating SOUND of the iron
hoofs of the horse us he slowly turned
in exact concert with the movements OF
the tiger.
sat last and without the slightest visi-
bic preparation, the tiger sprang, cutting
the airlike flash of lightning, but the
horse was prepared.
1t had evidently been Burrhea's inten-
ton to seize the head and fore-quarters
but tile man-eater was too quick for him
and by sudden diving motion of his
head and shoulders, received his antago
mist upon his muscular launches instead
The claws of the tiger sank deep in thu
flesh, while his hind feet made desper
ate effort to secure holding upon thu
horses shoulders, but before this coulC
be effected the man-eater lashed out witt
his iron heels with a resistless vigor tina
sent Burrhea sprawling upon the grounC
with broken Jaw.
The king seeing this, frowned, anC
gave orders to let the tiger out and turl
in another. Another came, but h
seemed unwilling to fight All the ef
forts of the keepers failed to arouse him
The king was furious
! Take away that fool of a tiger an,
bring in a hon!" screamed he, bendin
over the railing and menacing the tige
with his fist.
The trembling attendants hastened t
raise the doors of railing and cage, an
) the tiger bounded in with infinitely MOI
: alacrity than he had shown in comm
= out.
5 There was a brief pause, and than tn
, attendant at the door announced til
: keeper of the lions, who begged the aud
4 ence of the king.
Bring him inm ordered his majesty
: The liOn-maSter tremblinplV advanced