Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-08-20

Idht SUNNI h'ohS " pIeNtHt Hlll liohl
leaping out of the ring into the crowd.
If his friends, the spectators, had nc
better way to suggest he would order
that the lion be tied to a stake in the
centre of the bull ring. This propos-
ition had the entire approval of the spec
tators, and especially of those who sat in
the rows nearest the ring. The lion was
tied with rope enough to allow him to
jump hardly more than twice his own
length.
Tie the bull, too"' called out voice.
Fair play for the lion!" and the cry was
taken up.
The manager protested that he wanted
the fight to be as good as possible, and
he doubted the wisdom of tying the bull.
1t is not fair" the crowd shouted.
"The bull will kill the lion without a
fight"
What would you have?" said the
manager. "Shall l let loose the lion
among you all?
NO, no. Tie the bull in front Of the
lion. Give them an equal chance"
So the bull was tied to stake with a
short rope, Apparently the lion would
have fair chance. At length the COM
batants were left face to face. The lion
was free of muzzle and the two extra
ropes.
The animals watched each other for q
few moments, each one moving restlessly
as though uncertain what to do. Neither
seemed to be afraid. The bull slowly
paved the ground and waved his long
tail at the same time shaking his head
and expelling from his nostrils such
quick blasts of air that the dust flew up
in his face. The lion now and then
crouched nervously, with snarling jaw
and jerking tail, but he did not spring.
The crowd held its breath again and
again as the crisis seemed to be ut hand.
AT length the lion crouched. His
muscles moved under his soft skin like
steel springs. The bull stiffened his
thick neck and lowered still further his
wicked head.
Then there was a sudden flash of yell
low in the last rays of the setting sun.
The lion had sprung at his foe. The
bulls great head went up into the air so
quickly that the human eye could not fol-
low the motion, but the bull was too late.
The lion landed full upon the bulls
broad back and dug in his cruel claws
The bull roared. His roar was answered
by greater, louder roar from the
thousand human throats in the circle out
side the ring. The human animal was in
sympathy with his dumb fellow.
The bull jumped about and tried vio-
lently to dislodge the lion, but the yellow
beast stuck fast. In moment the blooc
began to trickle down the bulls BLACK
sides. Probably surprised by the moist
of the bowling crowd, the lion made NJ
further hostile demonstration. Even thu
smell of blood did not rouse him from hi
wondering quiet. The rope which fas
tened the bull to the stake was too shor
to allow him much freedom of movement
and so the lion remained calmly on hi
back.
"Give the bull chance" the crow
began to yell. Don't you see that h
can't move his head? Give the bull NOR
rope. The lion will kill him like tam
cow" Sympathy for the bull was ris
ing.
"Knock the lion off !" howled tn
crowd again. "Let the fight go on.
will be dark before it's over. Knock tn
lion off or we will cut the ropes. Civ
the bull more rope" The bulls lif
blood was trickling down into the dus
in steadily increasing streams.
The subdued manager yielded to tn
will of the people. The lion was induce
to get down from the bulls back, where
upon he was dragged along to his stake
He was getting ugly, and the men whit
had hold of his rope were careful to keel
well out of his reach. Only the bull wal
left to face his rising wrath.
The bulls rope was heightened so thai
it was nearly the same length as til,
rope which held the lion, and when h,
felt his head once more free the blacl
fellow turned to lick his wounds. |
was only for moment, however, as h,
seems to know instinctively that the lior
must be watched.
The crowd began to yell again. "Gc
for him, lion! take him by the neck!
cheered groups of spectators here and
there. Take him under the forelegs
BULL" shouted hundreds of voices; "toss
him once for all! He deserves it. He
kills all the calves and frightens the
COWS. Kill the thief and get even"
The lion began to growl and to walk
back and forth quickly, as though seek.
ing for chance to spring in and finish
the work already begun. His wonder
and surprise had passed away, and he was
ready for a more serious attack. The
bull was smarting with pain where the
lions claws had sunk into his flesh, and
he shook his head viciously. These de-
monstrations went on for few moments
without result, and the crowd yelled
louder and louder. In their excitement
men leaped into the bull ring to get q
better view.
Then the attitude of the two raging
animals changed. The lion crouched foi
another spring, and in that same instant
the bull lowered his head and stif'ened
his thick neck. The lions quivering
muscles contracted with nervous strain
for the leap, but just on the exact instant
the huge black beast rushed upon him
with lowered head and shining horns and
tossed him high in air. The horns had
caught the lion under the forelegs as the
yellow animal rose for his spring, and
had thrown him like a feather. AS he
went upward the lion turned over on his
back, with his feet waving helplessly tc
and fro. He went the length of his rope
and then stopped short with sudder
crack that was heard distinctly by all thu
spectators. Then he came down in
limp and helpless mass, quivering in {
death spasm. The battle was over. Tn,
lions neck was broken New York Re
corder.
Then the Numbers Go.