The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-18

the tiger is always a dangerous ami
NAL, particularly when he has the
scent of blood under his nose The
beast grOWled menacingly and switch
him, and when the blood began to run
/ in my veins againsSl knew that the
chances against me were ten to one
ave! a hundred. There was a fresh
/ carcass under his nose to tempt him,
but a wild beast does not sink down
and begin to feed off carcass when
lere is a living man twenty feet
/ beyond. He had had a hearty feed at
I 6 O'Clock and could not be hungry
had read, as everybody else has,
that one should look a dangerous
beast in the eye. No one ever gave
only stared me out OF confidence,
but the fact that I was staring at him
seemed to anger him. I believe the
result would be the same in any case.
His tail continued to switch. his ears
to fiatten, and his lip dropped down to
show his horrible fangs. I realized
that in another minute he would
spring on me, but to save my life
could not move foot. The idea of
fighting him never occurred to me. If
it had I should have to abandon it
next instant, as there was not weapon
at hand. I had forgotten the presence
from the tiger awoke the boy. Up to
the time he sat up the tiger had not
seen him.
II thought it was morning." said
the half-wit. as he got to his feet and
rubbed his eyes.
Then he noticed me staring fxedly
at the tiger and turned his face in
that direction.
Hello, Nero-I knew you would
comet" he cried to the beast; and
leaping over the carcass. of the buffalo
he put his arms around the neck of
the king of the jungle. The beast
whined and licked his face.
I'VE are great friends, you know
explained Binks as he turned to me.
IT have been in his cage night after
night when nobody knew anything
about it. I unlocked that door and
the door of his cage, and told him if
he would come in after you were gone
we would have a romp. Stop your
growing, Binks; that gentleman has
been very good to me- Come over and
pat him on the head. Mr.. Hastings.
Nero won't hurt anybody unless I tell
him to-
I was thoroughly frightened, and how
carried things off as web as I did
has always been a puzzle to me. All
the money in the world could not have
induced me to approach the beast. He
was quiet now, and his eyes no longer
blazed but what 1 wanted was to get
out of that as soon as possible.
"Binks, am in a hurry tonight and
can't STOP I replied. Il wish you
would kneel down in front of Nero and
put your arms around his neck. I
don't want him to see me when I go.''
.Of course will, but next time you
come you must have a romp with US. /
You have no idea how high Nero can
jump, and you ought to see him show
his teeth sometimes when pull his tail
too hard
While the boy shielded me from the |
tigers gaze I slipped out of the yard
door and locked it behind me. and ten |
later I had aroused all the
keepers. They got the tiger back in
his cage by eoaxing Binl6s to lead him !
there, and then what did they do but |
fall afoul of the lad and kick and cuff |
him off the premises. owed him |
debt of gratitude and wished to pay it, |
but though I looked for him for a year
or more I was not able to get trace of
him. Copyrighted, 1895. by T. c. Nc
CIure.)