Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-10-11

| fCriOr race called man.
While the horses sported together
Burrhea's cage was brought into the ve-
randa, just opposite the point where the
king and his court were now seated, u
door in the bamboo railing was thrown
open and the front Of the cage raised.
Burrhca, who had been kept without
| food or drink for the last twenty-four
hours, waited for no second bidding, but
leaped at one bound from tho cage down
to the middle of the court yard, flashing
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 tho
frowzy hair Of tattoo, or native horse
and making even the man-catcr's we'll
kept hide look dull and cough in COM
parison.
CHANGING stcalthily about him for IL
moment, the tiger commenced stealing
slowly toward the horses.
| Adme- kanawallnh fixed his eyes
steadily upon the eyes Of his opponent,
md not for mn instant din he take them
off. Standing in an easy attitude, one
foot slightly advanced, bis head lowered,
his ears fiat upon his neck, he awaited
the attack, but Burrle4, daunted, per-
haps, by that steady gaze, swerved
from the direct limo of his approach and
sided toward The tattoo, who, paralized
with fear, seemed incapable Of making
the least effort either fos escape or rcsis-
tance.
Arrived at the proper distance, Bur
rhea sprang, knocked his victim flat,
alghted upon his side, and, with his
teeth inserted in the poor creaturc'sneck,
greedily drank its blood.
at will only make Bllrrhca the more
savage" said the king, glcefully rubbing
his hands, and the conrtcrs dutifully
asscnted, exchanging g!ances of appro-
baton and pleasure before turning to en-
joy the further expected sport.
At length Burrhoa was satisfied, or
else no more blood could be had, and
taking his claws out Of the dead animal,
and shaking himself as he did SO, he be-
gan to creep steadily around the court
yard like II cat stealing march upon u
mouse. He made no noise whatever,
raising and placing his huge paws as 81
lently ~ u roseleaf llutters to the ground
It was not scene to be forgotten.
The king with his courtiers, both Euro
pean and Indian, about him in the gayly
decorated gallery above, the eyes and
figures of the servants dimly seen peer
ing through the railing Of the YER
anda below, Burrhea making his stealthy
rounds, while in the center of the court
yard stood the man-eater, slowly turn
ing as tho tiger moved, so rs to
always keep his eyes fixed upon the glar-
ing eyes Of his opponent, his foreleg still
advancing and slightly bent, his name
bristling, and his ears now erect and
defiant.
The profound silence was interrupted
only by tho grating sound of the iron
sh0d h0Ofs of tho horse az he slowly
turned in exact concert with the move
ments Of the tiger.
At last, and without tho slightest WISH
bic preparation, the tiger sprang-cut-
ting the air like flash Of lightning
but the horse was prepared.
1t had evidently been Burrhca's intcn-
ton to seize the head and forequarters,
but the man-eater was too quick for him,
and by sudden diving motion Of his
head and shoulders, received his amigo
MIST on his muscular launches instead.
The claws Of tho tiger sank deep into
the flesh, while his hind feet made des-
perate effort to secure a holding upon
the horses shoulders, but before this
could be effected the man-eatcr dashed
out with his iron heels with rcsistlcss
yigor that sent Burrhca sprawling upon
the ground with broken jaw.
The king seeing this, frowncd, and
gave orders to let the tiger out and turn
in another. Another came but he seemed
unwilling to fight. All the efforts of the
keepers failed to rouse him. The king
was furious.
''Take away this fool Of tiger and
bring in lonw screamed he, bending
over the railing and monacing the tiger
with his fist.
The trembling attendants FASTENED to
raise the doors Of railing and cage, and
the tiger bounded in with infinitely more
alacrity 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 an au-
dience of the king.
Bring him I'M" ordered his majesty.
The lion master trembling)y advanced,
and prostratng himself, announced that
not one of the royal beasts under his
charge was 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 "
growled the king, whose ill-humor had
reached its height.
| A profound silence followed this COM
mand, which all who heard it under
stood as sentence of death against the
unfortunate man, whose only otlensc