The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1879-10-18

While the horses sported together
Burrhea's cage was brought into the ver-
anda, 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 tor the last twenty -four
hours, waited for no second bidding, but
leaped with one bound from the cage to
the middle of The courtyard, flashing his
sides with his leng tail and glaring furi-
ously at the horses, while his glossy and
| beautifully striped coat shone like satin,
contrasting strongly with the frowsy hair
OF the tattoo, or native horse, and max
ing the eaters wcll-kept hide look
dull and rough in comparison.
Glancing stealthily about hlm for a
moment, the tiger commenced stealing
about the horses.
Admee- kanawallah fixed his eyes stead
lily upon the eyes of his opponent, and
not for an instant did he take them Off
slightly advanced, his head lowered his
ears fiat upon his neck, he awaited the
attack, but Burrhea, daunted, perhaps, 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, Burr
hea sprang, knocked his victim fiat,
alighted upon his side, and, with his
teeth inserted in the poor creatures neck,
greedlly drank Its blood
! ut will only make Burrhea the more
savage" said the king, geefully rubbing
his hands, and the courtiers dutifully
assented, exchanging glances of approba-
tion and pleasure before turning TO enjoy
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 began to
creep stcalthily around the court yard like
a cat stealing a march upon a mouse. He
made no noise whatever, raising and plac-
ing his hugh paws as silently as rose
leaf t1utters to the ground.
1t was not a scene to be forgotten. The
King, with his courtlers. both European
and Indian, about him in the gayly-decor-
ated gallery above, the eyes and figures
of the servants dlmlv seen peering through
the railing OF the veranda below Burr
hea making his stealthv rounds. while in
the center Of the courtyard stood the
man cater, slowly turning, as the tiger
moved, 50 AS always to keep his eyes
fixed upon the glaring eyes Of his oppo-
nent, his toreleg still advanced and slight
" bent, his name bristling, and his ears
now erect and defiant.
The profound silence was interrupted
only by the grating sound OF the iron
hoots OF the horse as he slowly turned IN
exact concert with the movement of the
tiger.
At last, and without the slightest ylsI-
bic preparation, the tiger sprang. cutting
the air like Il flash Of lightning, but tine
horse was prepared.
It had evidently been Burrheas S inten-
tlon to seize the head and fore quarters
but tie man eater was to quick for him.
and by a 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 the
flesh, while hls hind feet made a desper-
ate effort to secure a holding upon the
horses shoulders, but before this could
be effected the man-eater lashcd out with
his iron heels with resistless vigor that
sent Burrhea sprawling to the ground
with broken jaw.
The king seeing this, troWned, and
gave orders to let the tiger out and turn
IN another. Another came, but he seem
ed unwilling to fight All the efforts OF
the keepers failed to arouse him. The
king was fArious.
''Take away that fool of tiger and
bring in a lion.' screamed he, bending
over the railing and menacing the tiger
with his fist.
The trembling attendants hastened to
raise the doors Of railing and cage, and
the tiger bounded in with infinitely more
alacritv than he had shown in coming
out.
There was brief pause, and then the
attendant at the door announced the
keeper Of the lions, who begged the audi
cnce Of the king.
Bring hlm in ordered his majesty
The lion master trembhngly advanced
and prostratng himself, announced his
chasge not in fighting trim, one of them
being sick, and the rest just finishing an
unusually large repast
by the beard Of my father, but you
shall replace them yourself, wallah I"
g1owlcd the king, whose ill-humor had
reached its height. 'Arm yourself with
tulwar and so in to fight the man eater
Kill hlm, or he will kill you
x profound silence followed this conf
mand. which all who heard il understood
as a sentence against the unfortunate
man whose only otfense consisted in hay
ing been too indulgcnt u tic animals