Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-07-10

all about that Wen soon bring him
10 reason. lle knows u.s. We tames
em, don't yer see, by the heye Lor'
bless yerl he'll be in awful funk when
he sees as; and ten to one he'll come
out as quiet as the lambkin he swal-
lowed II he won't we'll soon hamper
him so as he won't have no choice.
"He is not very savage, then, ! sup
pose?' said Bob
"Ain't he, thought" cried the man.
81 reckon he'd soon show you the diff
ference. Not sayagel--I do like that
And up the stairs went the three keep
ers
Bob and the groom watched them
from respectful distance. They bold
ly entered the room, closing the door
after them, and for some time nothing
happened within sight There was
loud growing at first followed by a
deep, savag, roar, and then the report
OF pistol After considerable time,
however, the men emerged slowly, half
dragging, half carrying the mighty
monster, smothered with the net and
bound with the ropes and chain. When
the two spectators OF this sensational
scene turned their eyes for minute TO
the lawn, they saw that the van had
been driven right in through the stable
yard, across the grass. and was now be-
ing backed by its attendant to the foot
OF the stairs. In another two or three
minutes the unwelcome intruder was
dragged and lifted down the stairs. He
did not seem 70 offer much resistance
indeed, he could not--bat he continued
TO growl iiercely and when whack
from one Of the crowbars tell upon him
his roar seemed to shake the earth.
The blackboard, or flap OF the van was
lowered on TO one OF the steps, and
presently the beast was thrust and
huddled into great iron cage which
tho vehicle contained, and which was
then closed.
Bob says he hacdly knows how the
awkward business was managed, so ex-
citing was the spectacle. But IT seemed
to him that the beast was completely
cowed and terrified making little or
none of the resistance one would have
expected. Fear is the potent agent by
which alone those accustomed to the
work manage the denizens OF menag.
cries. The captors in this case, how
ever, did not escape without some ugly
scratches, to use the mildest term, and
the wrist of one of the men was torn
and bleeding and seemed to be severely |
injured. And no wonder. How the
capture was effected at all is the real /
wonder.
The whole household was astir by
this time. The keepers were given |
some refreshment. the injured mans
arm bound up and, though he seemed /
to make ligAt of the hurt II evidently |
caused him great pain. But he de-
clared that they we're used to that sort |
OF thing, and merely eondescended TO
explain that il was done by smart pat
from the tigers paw Shortly after
the party departed, and the unwelcome 1
guest was driven to the wild-beast show /
at Reading fair, the proximity Of which |
festivity accounted, of course, for his /
presence in Bob's room. II was
strange and awkward eS1efitncc, you /
will admit; and rs my sons story ends |
here need only add that an examina-
tion of the apartment proved that the |
capture had not been effected very
easily. The furniture was greatly dis
arranged and the signs of a tremendous
scrimmage were apparent everywhere,
while bones OF the luckless lamb were
found under the bed. As to that
strange sense of depression Bob re-
ferred to, hardly know what to
think. Some people would say it
was due TO mysterious kind of
electric influence produced by the pres.
ence OF the beast precisely as certain
sensitive temperaments declare they
can always tell when strange cat is in
room. even without seeing it. Bob's
mother. for instance, | know from ex
perience, is so constituted, and has as
tonished me more than once by discover
ing puss hidden in a corner when no
body else had the slightest idea that
any such intruder had entered the
house. II this be the true solution OF
the lads state Of mind, he has probably
inherited his sensibility from his moth
er, and in that case we mustsuppose the
feeling TO be a vague sort of warming
given by nature OF the presence Of
danger Throughout the animal crea-
tion We find some such instincts con-
stantly aroused and naturalists will
tell you they are part of the defenses
with which the weaker creatures are
armed against the strong in order, in
fact that they may give their enemies
a wide berth. For my own part | am
inclined to believe that tho odd, close,
wild beast like smell peryading the
apartment produced adegree offaintness
in the young fellow. Perhaps what he
felt arose from both these causes; do
not pretend 20 decide.
1t was further discovered that another
lamb had been sacrificed in the field
most likely before the animal made his
way through the hedge with part Of the
second. The owner of the menagerie
offered to make compensa-
tion for the damage but as Bob's
friends we're wealthy, generous people,
they would not accept it. lie went
over to Reading, however, again, and
had look at his friend through the
bars; and, though tho beast was but
little injured, he appeared very sub
iued only muttering his objections by
a low growl every now and then.-W.