The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-29

in between the turns" to stop the
next. artistes from appearing, Paolo
made low bow, and, holding up his
hand for silence, announced:
Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot
thank you sufficiently in words for the
kindness with which you have received
my efforts tonight; SO, as deeds speak
louder than words, / shall bring before
you, for the first time in public, my
famous trained lion. He and Will
give an exhibition of wrestling. All!
you hear him, l think, answering my
challenge"-as a loud roar burst from
behind the curtains, and caused few
of the more timid to move uneasily In
their seats
With one magnificent bound the noble
beast was through the curtains and In
the middle of the ring. There he lay
crouching in the odorous tan, as though
scarce realizing his unwonted freedom
and struck by the strangeness of his
surroundings his bloodshot eyes roll
ing uneasily, and his quick, gasping
breath disturbing the dust beneath his
dilated nostrils.
Paolo had braced his limbs to give
ton of Scipio's onrush, his weapon con-
| cealed in the hollow Of his hand; and
as he stood, in all the grace and
strength of his magnificent manhood,
every symptom of fear vanished, he
felt within himself that he almost well
coined the moment that would bring
to him victory or death.
Little time for thought, however, had
Paolo. With one fell spring the
mighty beast was at him, his open jaws
dripping froth, his bloodshot eyes blaz-
ing with fury.
But not this time did he grasp his in
tended prey, for quick as thought the
practiced eye of the acrobat detected
the movement, and, bending forward
head and knees almost touching the
ground, he made a rapid shift in the
opposite direction, and avoided by al
most hairs breadth being crushed
breathless beneath the lions bulk
Quick as lightning's flash the lion
turned once more, crouching low in the
dust, his eye warily seeking some weak
spot in the armor of this strange an
tagonist, whose 1.-THE limbs and sinuous
movements puzzled him, and who
showed less signs of fear facing him
here in open fight than the crowds of
frail humanity who had Knocked and
| jeered at him SO often from the safe
side of his prison bars, but who shrank
| back affrighted when in his wrath he
gave his awful battle roar.
This time, with cat-like tread, he
slowly advanced upon his adversary,
striving, as though conscious of his
power and strength, to drive him back
and pen him helplessly and without
chance of escape against the side Of
the ring, and then to seize him at his
leisure.
Paola was also thinking. When would
the soldiers come? Could he survive to
carry on the unequal struggle till they
arrived? But while thinking not mus
Gle relaxed.
Seeing the lions tactics, he gradually
managed to skirmish towards the ring,
though by so doing he passed within
few feet of his nose.
Come on, Scipio," he said aloud, with
gay bravado he little felt, this is not
how lions fight" And he made a slight
feint, as though playfully to touch his
adversary an the head.
With a deep, hollow roar of anger
Scipio reared aloft on his hind legs, and
throwing all prudence to the winds, and
realizinZ that the momentous struggle
had come at last, Paola rushed madly
at him. man and beast closing in a terri
BILE death grapple, the lion continuing
erect as though wishful to wrestle on
equal terms with his brave biped.
In the swift onrush Paolo dropped his
dagger, and now, weaponless but fren
zied with rage and despair. he exerted
every atom of his marvellous strength.
and with one giant upheaval overthrow
the wild beast.
But Scipio'S mighty claws We're busy