Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-03-24

caterer lad done. On the fourth day from
Caledonia We stopped at small settlement
where arrangements had been made for an
exhibition. We pitched our tents at the
ss-roads-tickets fifty cents each-and We
had full house. That night Mr.. Pelby III
formed HE that he had fed out the last OF
his meat, and that he should want more in
the morning. | knew the provision was
gone, and had already been looking around
for fresh supply.
You must understand that this settle
ment was not much of village. A store,
smiths shop, and two or three mean dwell.
lings, were all the buildings in the place;
but the surrounding country was fertile, and
we'll settled, and people iocke1 into our
show far and near. | went to the man who
kept the store, and he promised that he
would have an OK for me in the morning.
Morning came but no OK. The man de-
clared that he could not find one; but he
said that we should be able to obtain
meat at the next crossroads, which was
only ten miles distant. Pelby was quite
uneasy. The animals had been fed very
lightly on the previous day and he feared
that they would become restge if they
went much longer hungry.
eve started at eight o'clock in the morn
ing, and at eleven We reached the settle
ment where We had Keen informed that
meat could I've obtained; bu* not scrap
could ba found. There was not an OK in
an the. place, and only two cows. But
We Tere assured that a few miles further on
Fe should ind what we wanted. So on
we went, and the afternoon crept halt
away without bringing us in sight of any
living thing which we could kill
THE day was very warm one. and
the matches upon the cages were open to
give good circulation of air, for the ami
mails. My tiger was uneasy enough. He
growled and scratched at his bars, and
ever and anon he leaped against the side
of his narrow house with q force that
shook me in my seat. At brook where
where We stopped to water l spoke with
Pelby about the tiger. told him the beast
was becoming savage.
Never mind" said he, "well find some
thing before night. The first animal We see
by the wayside Well take, if We have to
steal it.
But this did not satisfy me. The tiger
was full grown one, and almost as power
ful as he might have been in his native jun
gle. did not feel easy. Suggested that we
had better kill one of the dogs. But Pelby
would not listen to tkis. He knew that the
larger beasts we've hungry, and that they
would kick up great fuss; but he believed
they would stand it some hours yet
ut was not so much of the welfare of the
animals that l thought as of nay own well
fare. suggested to Pelby that the cage I
drove was not of the strongest.
"He laughed me. Why said he, the
tiger might bump away month at that
cage, and he couldn't Start bar
''But was not so sure of that believed
that some of the bars were already started.
The jolting of the wagon over the rough
roads had gradually loosened the hold of
the wood upon the iron, and told Mr.. Pei
by that if he could hear the jarring which l
had heard, he would not be quite so conf
dent of the tigers powerlessness.
pooh" said he, laughing at me. of
you are so easily frightened as that, you will
l.
you on to the monkeys"
II didn't relish that kind of lip at all;
and told Mr.. Pelby that I'd drive his tiger |
as long as he had tiger to drive, unless |
found somethi better to do.
'We started on again. Jackson's Inn was |
twenty miles distant, and that was our next |
place of exhibition. 1t was now past three |
cjo in tho opd no kbo roo5 |
was very rough we had good look for be-
ing on the move until after dark. Mr.. Pei |
by led the column with four horse team;
next followed the cage containing pair of |
lions; next, full grown grizzly bear; next |
a pair of leopards; and next came my team,
with the Royal Bengal tiger; while behind
me followed panthers, black bears, hyenas
zebra, ostrich, moose and monkeys.
II tell you the wild beasts were hungry;
and my tiger was getting to be ugly. He
growled and snarled, and | could hear him
tearing at the bars. By and by he made q
new movement. You remember that told
you that the scuttle, or hatch, on top of the
cage, was open. This hole was about two
feet square, and guarded with traverse
bars, three running one way, and three
he other. The tiger leaped up and caught
,hese bars with his claws. / turned and
Jaw that he still hung by them, and that
lis weight buckled them. l took the butt
If my whip and beat him Off He grnwled
for while, and then spent a
eason quietly. AT length, however, he
another bout, and pretty soon
,aught the bars of the scuttle again. There
vas terrible cracking of the wood, and Just
8 turned the butt of my whip the bars
anne out and the hole was entirely open
stopped my horse, and then sprang up to
hut the trap door, but the tiger was quick
r than I was. AS l reached out my hand
le came up with a furious bound, cltch-
ag the outside of the cage with his claws,
nd bringing full half his body out through
he opening. l struck at him with my
7hip, in hopes to drive him back; but he
aught the stock with his teeth, and
RED to pull it away from him. That was
be most foolish thing that ever did.
had let go the whip all might hayej
cen well; but the moment began to pull
gave the tiger lift that helped him out
'om his hole. He was already about even
7 balanced, and as I gave that pull upon |
is head, overcame the lack of rest for
is mind feet. He pulled, and I pulled. /
pulled because the whip seemed {
, be the only weapon, and 1
'anted it; and when saw my mistake it
as too late to rectify it. The brute had 6
aimed balance over the edge of the open
lg, and in moment more he was upon
he top of the cage, without bond of any
ind. II
''At that particular moment I felt as
,ough 7 should like to resign my position
) driver of that wagon. What could do?
here was, upon my foot-board, with 3
0 weapon at hand, and the tiger loose up--I !