St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-02-05

was watching, not Brindle, but Ar
chOn, and Brindle was watching too.
Soon it was the big lions turn. In
answer to the command he came for
ward, but there was something
strange in his motion. His eyes were
set, and he moved jerkily, and the
great tufted tail that had been curv-
ing around his TANKS grew straight
and rigid as an iron club.
Come, Archon," said the girl. Cup!
Get up, sir! Archonw Them without
raising her voice, for the discipline of
the circus thinks first of it's audience
the audience that must not be unpleas-
antly disturbed-she said rapidly: "Set
the poles and keep him back. 1 can't
get to the door. He's going bad"
Slowly the great lion moved on
stiffiy like cat stalking a sparrow.
The others crouched at the sides, silent
and trembling. Only Brindle growled
slightly. Then there was a rattle and
clank Of the iron door, and a man,
bearing a heavy club in his hand,
leaped into the cage.
"Philr' cried the girl, with a thrill
in her voice that told him more than
he had ever known before. GO back!
They don't know you! You'll be kill
ed! l can handle"-
Her voice was drowned in the
shrek of thousands of voices as the
great lion hurled himself straight at
her throat, shifting at her with those
terrible paws. At the same time a Sec
ond taWny body darted through the
air, and the two met. Like a fash
the girl had slipped away from the
mad lions onslaught, but a glancing
impact had sent her to the floor. Half
stunned as she was, she caught at the
bars to raise herself, for once a train
er is down authority is gone, and any
lion is likely to attack. A strong arm
lifted her and drew her toward the
door, but the way was blocked. Lock
ed in a furious embrace, the mad lion
and the two-year-old were tearing
and clawing each other, while the rest
SUNK, terrified, at the sides. Even in
her peril the girl thought of the faith
full beast.
"Archon will kill him~ she cried,
clutching the elephant mans arm.
"See, he is working in at his throat!
Oh, can't they get lirebrands?"
What Berthels did then was partly
from gratitude and partly from the
/ natural fighting courage of the man
heavy club up and as Brindle in final
effort for life tore half loose from his
/ foe brought the weapon down with a
smashing blow across the mad lions
NAV. 4 lions nose is his sensitive
point. Half stunned, the giant relaxed
| his grip, and Brndle tore away. Arch,
on gathered himself to leap. Again the
club fell, but this time too late. The
man was down.
at him, Brindlew cried the girl
catching at Archon with her slender
hands, and the faithful lion responded
with another attack.
But now the fighting madness was al
its height in Archons brain. One paw
broke BertheIs' arm, the foaming jaws
were at his throat, when there came
the crackle of pistols, and the fierce
face rose. despatched with blood, turn
ed hither and thither and closed its
eyes. They dragged Berthels out of the
cage then and there, but not so the
girl Over her Brindle, torn and man
gled, mounted guard until she came tC
from her faint and drew herself to hel
feet with her hands buried in his
name.
Berthels insisted that he and the
feline empress ought to be married or
the day they buried Archon, but his
broken arm wouldn't allow it. Howev
er, they had a professional wedding in
the lion cage, and Brindle, standing
proudly on his hind legs, with crossed
American flags in his mouth, was best
man.