The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-18
A Midnight Peril

gardens IN n prOicSst0nhl capacity IOE
three years when | met BinkB. He was
q young man OF eighteen or twenty and
0 half wit. lie had neither home nor
friends, and no one knew where no
came from, but he was allowed to hang
around the place and assist the keepers
for his board. lie had been there about
q month when | saw him. He was a
butt of 1dicule, and some Of the keep.
ers were treating him harshly. He had
been severely cuffed by one OF them
Just before being sent TO me and was
crying over II like girl. | sympa-
thized with him and braoed him up BY
giving him the first coin he had had
In a year, and we two soon got on good
terms.
About six weeks after my first meet
Ing with Binks was sent for 10 pre-
serve the carcass OF buffalo, and the
lad was ordered TO assist me. II was In
winter time and the weather very cold.
The buffnlo had been ailing for week
or two and had died at night In a shed
and his body froze az hard as iron.
Binks and | had to thaw II out before
we could start at the real work, and 80
II occurred that we worked until late
evening hour before was ready to 90.
II was after ~ o'clock when began TO
wash UP. and / looked around to find
the boy curled up on some blankets and
evidently asleep. As 1t was room
heated with steam pipes, ! decided not
10 disturb him.
There was a door Of communication
between the dissectlng room and the
animal house. but II was never closed.
I had briefly examined II on two or
three occasions 10 find II locked. In
the animal house the keepers made
their rounds every three hours, begin
ming at y o'clock. Between o and 10
o'clock | had worked mostly alone,
while Binks was In and out Of the
place four or Ave times. had no rec
objection Of seeing him near the lock
ed door, however. lie was seemingly
asleep, as I said and was washing
my hands preparatory TO taking my
departure when low growl behind
me made my hair stand sp. ] turned
to nnd a male Bengal tiger on the far
side OF the carcass Of the buffalo and
between me and the animal house
door. The door, as ! afterward found
out, was swing door and opened with.
out noise after being unlocked and shut
itself with a spring. No one but BiDks
could have unlocked II.
The tiger was looking me full in the
eyes as | turned. and II seemed as "
turned to stone. must have breathed, |
but was not conscious Of II The
beast had somehow escaped from its
cage In the animal house, and the scent !
Of blood had drawn him TO my room |
He did not have the reputation OF be-
ing particularly ferocious, but one
hasn't got TO be connected with ZOO
to know that the tiger Ia always dan
gerous animal, particularly when be
has the scent OF blood under his nose.
The beast growled menacingly and
switched his tail as | stood there look
Ing AT him, and when the blood began
10 run In my veins again knew that
the chances against me were ten TO one
aye. hundred There was fresh
'arcass under his nose TO tempt him,
Jut wild beast does not sink down
lnd begin to feed OF carcass when
here is living man twenty feet be
iond,
| had read, as everybody else has,
hat one SHOULD look a dangerous beast
n the eye No one ever gave more
'oollsh advice The tiger not only star
ID me ont Of confidence, but the fact
hat | was staring ut him seemed to
niger him. | believe the result would
,e the same In any case. His tall con
inued to switch, his eyes TO tlatten. and
lis lip dropped down to show his hor~
ible fangs. realized that In another
minute he would spring on me. but to
ave my life could not move foot.
rhe idea Of fighting him never occur
ed to me. If II had should have had to
bandon II the next instant, as there
vas no weapon at hand. had forgot
on the presence Of Binks when low,
growl from the tiger awoke
he boy.
81 thought 1t was morning." said
he half wit, as he got to his feet and
ubbed his eyes.
Then he noticed me staring fixedly at
he tiger and turned his face in that
irection.
Hello, Nero! knew you would
ome!" he cried to the beast, and, leap
ig over the carcass Of the buffalo, he
ut his arms around the neck Of the
ing OF the jungle The beast whined
nd licked his face.
I'VE are great friends. you know" !
Zplained Binks as he turned to me. II
ave been in his cage night after night
hen nobody knew anything about 1t. |
nlocked that door and the door Of his
'ge and told him II he would come In
tier you were gone we would have a
mp Stop your growing, That gentle.
an has been very good to me- Come -,
ver and pat him on the head, Mr..
astings, Nero won't hurt anybody
,Iaoo 7 talI hin, 60 ~ :