Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-08-15

became aware, by growing lish, an
smell OF burning, that new elelaeat Of
terror was added to the situation.
A puI of the nigh. breeze from th4
river had blown q fold Of tue mosquito
curtain against the lamp which stood by
The bed, upsetting it. Like flash The
curtain ana bedding We're IN flames, 10
which was added tie combustion OF the
oil spreading over the rloor mating. Il
was a contlagratioa beyond tue power OF
Gordon TO extin-uish, even If he hal
found the heart 20 attemy. il in tue face I
OF his other great peril.
It was but few moments before the
whole interior of the apartment was in
flames, from floor TO ceiling He heard
the tigers come one after the other upon
the yeranla. The blow OF a paw brohe
down a blind aud the heads OF one of the
brutes appeared at the opening. Gordon
eoull endure to remain, until the tiger,
as if dazel with the liynt, withdrew to
resume his round about the foot Of the
wall
Rapidly the flames, famed by. the
5reeze into roaring contiagration,
burned along the cloth and bamboo CELL
ins overhead and efept along the mat
ting on the floor, forcing Gordon for
ward step by step upon the veranda into
the open Vi " Of the tigers They
roared more loudly when he appeared,
but, seemingly frightened by the smoke
anl fiame, they did not 1T onc. attack
him. But Is they paced to and fro
a.ons the foot of the walls at the farther
end of the enclosure they stopped to
crouch with swinging tails at the sigh,
Of the young mans figure outlined black
against the fire, and crept toward him,
only to turn away ana retire before some
fresh outburst Of the flames
Tho heat on the veranda had become
uncomfortable, and Gordon saw that, live
or die. he must, as his only chance Of
escape, try to get through the door Of
Of the wall, to reach this spot he must
pass within dozen yards Of the tigers.
This small door, which was strongly
made, opened into the compound, and
swung toward tne front wall where the
beasts were pacing. 1t was fastened,
when shut, by strong latcn.
To effect his escape Gordon had to
take ten long steps, unlatch aud open
tue door, pass through the opening aud
close the door behind nim before either
one Of his savage besic 5ers could lean
-ulon him. With the flames already
scorching him he decided that quick
death by teeth and claws was better than
to be burned alive. At moment when
! the nearest tigers pack was turned he
walked rapidly but steadily across the
corner Of the compound, lifted the latch,
opened the door, and stopped to pass
through.
At his first step from the veranIa the
| tiger nearest him wheeled, and both
the animals began to work toward him.
But to attack him they must dash to
ward the fire that awed them, and while
! they crept onward, growing and eyelny
i him, neither Of them sprang- until he
/ had reached and opened the door. Then
/ tie nearest tiger, moved partly pcrhans
| Dg Il hope o! escape through the open
/ ir4, lcapci for it. The creatures paws
! struck the door Just as Gordon was pass
/ inc the threshold, shutting il against
him with such force as TO throw the
/ young man violently upon his face into
the garden beyond
Had the door swung ajar after closing,
the beast would at once have been after
and upon him; but the latch cau-h: and
I held and Gorlon turning round as he
/ reyaincl his feet heard the scratching
made oy the tigers claws, and the ami
I mails whining snarl over his d!scom-
/ future as it retired to the farther end OF
! the compound.
GorIon's Appearance il the garden
Nj, oudiy ls.iIel by the people in the
!. n in house who having been wakene1
! IL ,l- tuniult had gathered in one apart
ueat/a anl barr;c4le] the winJ3ws and
j. doors; and tue mea with sacn weapon
= they co4!d obtain were SIAM ilag read .
! 10 defend the premises Believing tha'
] Gordon was surely killed, theg were sur
| p-;sel and delighted to see him emerg'
50 unexpectedly from his perlloas s'taa
ton. The people OF the neighborin.
houses were equally 3" akt, and on Ieara
ing the facts in the sitaa,ioa the NOR
i cr,Yar1.>,,v ,-,ac aou-0arbegf and fonke