Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-04-12
A Midnight Peril

| around the place and assist the Keepers
for his board. He had been there about
month when l saw him. He was a
| butt of ridicule, 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 it like girl. ] sympa-
thized with him and braced 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 l was sent for to pre-
serve the carcass of buffalo. and the
| lad was ordered to assist me. 1t was In
winter time and the weather very cold.
| The buffalo had been aiting for a week
or two and had died at night In q shed
and bis body frze as hard as Iron.
B1nks and had to thaw It out before
we could start at the real work. and 80
it occurred that we worked until late
evening hour before was ready to 60.
1t was after 10 O'Clock when began To
wash up, and looked around to find
the boy curied up OH some blankets and
evidently asleep. AS 1t Yves room
heated with steam pipes, decided not
to disturb him.
There was a door Of communication
between the dissecting room and the
animal house, but it was never closed.
had briefly examined 1t on two or
three occasions to find 1t locked. In
the animal house the keepers made
their rounds every three hours, begin
ming at O'Clock. Between 8 and 10
O'Clock l had worked mostly alone,
while Binks was in and out Of the
place four or five times. l had no rec
objection Of seeing him near the lock-
ed door, however. He was seemingly
asleep, as I said, and 1 was washing
my hands preparatory to taking my
departure when a low growl behind
me made my hair stand up. turned
to find male Bengal tiger on the far
side Of the carcass Of the buffalo and
between me and the animal house
door, The door, as l 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 l turned, and it seemed as II l
turned to stone 1 must have breathed,
but l was not conscious Of it 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 is always a dan
gerous animal. particularly when he
has the scent of blood under his nose.
The beast growled menacingly and
switched his tail as stood there loolS
ing at him, and when the blood began
to run In my veins again knew that
the chances against me were ten 10 one
aye, a hundred! There was fresh
carcass under his nose to tempt him.
but q Wild beast does not sink down
and begin to feed Off a carcass when
there Is living man twenty feet be-
yond.
had read, as everybody else has,
that one should hook 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 at him seemed to
anger him. l believe the result would
be the same in any case. His tail con-
tinued to switch. his eyes to fatten. and
his lip dropped down to show his hOr-
rfble fangs. realized that in another
minute he would spring on me. but to
save my life I could not move a foot.
The idea Of fighting him never occur
red to me- II it had should have had to
abandon It the next instant as there
was no weapon at hand. l had forgot
ten the presence Of Binks when low,
menacing growl from the tiger awoke
the boy.
FL thought it was morning." said
the half wit, as he got to his feet and
rubbed his eyes.
Then he noticed me staring fixedly at
the tiger and turned his face in that
direction.
"HellO, Nero! I knew you would
Gomez he cried to the beast, and, leap
ing 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. II
have been in his cage night after night
when nobody knew anything about 1t. l
unlocked that door and the door Of his
cage and told him If he would come in
after you were gone we would have
romp. Stop your growing. That gentle
man has been very good to me. Come
over and pat him on the head, Mr.
Hastings. Nero won't hurt anybody
unless l tell him to-
I was thoroughly frightened, and how
I carried things of as we'll as did has
always been a puzzle to me. All the
money in the world could not have In
iuced me to approach the beast. He
was quiet now. and his eyes no longer
blazed out, but what wanted was to
get out Of that as soon as possible.
"Binks. am in hurry tonight and
can't STOP" replied. II wish you would
kneel down in front Of Nero and put
hta