The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-03-03

between me and the animal house
door. The door, ais ] afterward found
out, was a swing door and opened with
out noise after being unlocked and shut
itself with spring. No one but Binks
could have unlocked it.
The tiger was looking me full In the
eyes as | turned, and it seemed as II
turned to stone must have breathed-
but was not conscious Of 1t 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 a zoo
to know that the tiger is always dan
gerous animal, particularly when he
has the scent Of blood under his nose
The beast growled menacingly and
switched his tail as l stood there look
ing at him, and when the blood began
to run in my veins again knew that
the chances against me were ten to one
ave. a hundred There was fresh
carcass under his nose to tempt him,
but a wild beast does not sink down
and begin to feed off carcass when
there is living man twenty feet be-
yond
had read. as everybody else has,
that one should look d dangerous beast
In the eye. No one ever gave more
foolish advice. The tiger not only star
ed me out Of confidence, but the fact
that was staring ait him seemed tc
4 anger him. / believe the result would
/ be the same in any case His tail con
tinued TO switch, his eyes to flatten, and
his lip dropped down to show his hor'
rible fangs | realized that in another
minute he would spring on me. but Z
save my life could not move foot
The idea Of lighting him never occur
red to me. If it had should have had (
abandon ii the next instant, as there
was no weapon at hand. had forgot
ten the presence OF Binks when a low
menacing growl from the tiger awok'
the boy.
+ IL thought it was morning" SAID
the half wit, as he got to his feet ant
rubbed his eyes
! Then he noticed me staring fixedly a
the tiger and turned his face in tina
direction.
Hello. Nerol / knew you woul'
conner he cried to the beast, and, lear
ing over the carcass Of the buffalo, b
put his arms around the neck Of tn
|. king Of the jungle The beast whine
! and licked his face.
I 1--WE are great friends, you know,
{ explained Binks as he turned to me-
t have been in his cage night after nigh
I when nobody knew anything about It.
: unlocked that door and the door Of 81
cage and told him II he would come i
: after you were gone we would have
romp. stop your growing. That gentle
q man has been very good to me. Com
! over and pat him on the head, MI
Hastings. Nero won't hurt anybod
unless / tell him to-"
was thoroughly frightened, and hoy
I carried things Off as well as did ha
always been a puzzle to me- All ID
money In the world could not have il
anekd me to approach the beast. II
| was quiet now. and his eyes no longe
+ blaxed out. but what | wanted was
get out OF that as soon as possible.
"Binks. l am In hurry tonight an
can't stop" replied Il wish you woul
knee down in front Of Nero and py
Eour arms around his neck. don
: want him to see me when 60"
) "Of course viii, but next time 20
come you must have romp with q
You have no idea how high Nero ca
Z jump. and you ought to see him shol
! his teeth sometimes when I pull his ia
. too hard
: While the boy shielded me from Il
( tigers gaze | slipped out Of the var
y door and locked IT behind me.
4 NJ QUAD