The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-20


Once he did almost start out on a
great voyage. firm in China offered
him the managership OF one of their
branches in the interior there. This
branch had the advantage of being ia
vored with occasional onslaughts of the
Tartars. Then, the doors would be shut,
the clerks flew to arms. up ran the con-
sular flag, and zizz! bangl boomi out of
the windows at the Tartarsi
Tartarin clutched this proposition with
immense enthusiasm. In the end 1t came
to nothing; but there was much talk in
the town about 1t. Tartarin's Journey
was so much discussed that at last the
people of Tarascon got to believe that
he had gone and returned. They used
to ask him questions about China. Deep
ly read, Tartarin furnished full partfo-
ulars, and it would happen most nat
urally that he should add the story Of
the attack by the Tartars and describe
how he made his men take to arms and
then zizzl bangi booml out Of the win
dows at the Tartarsl
That Provence is the Lucifers own
country, where the sun transforms and
magnihes everything stupendously. The
people of the south are not deceivers.
They are deceived. They live in MI
rage.
1t was that which made OF the boabab
sprout a giant fig tree in Tarascon, and
of a man who had not gone to Shanghai.
one who had been and returned with
glory. 1t was that which made the hunt
ers gathered In Costecalde's shop ex-
change silent, impulsive grips Of the hand
when they learned that menagerie had
arrived in town with a real African lion.
They felt as If the beast was already
crouching before their guns.
Tartarin was engaged at the time in
: explaining the working of the needle
gun, then a novelty. Blanched and agi-
tated, with the deadly arm gripped tight
ly, he brooded when he heard the ex-
citing news. Suddenly with a convul-
sive movement he shouldered the gun
and turned to the brave Comnandant
Bravida (formerly Captain-in the Gov
eminent Clothing Factory, saying calm
Iy, quite calmly, understand, Lets go
and have a look at him."
With head erect, Tartarin stalked into
the menagerie followed by Commandant
Bravida and all the cap-shooters- Before
the lions cage he stopped, rested his
hands on his gun barrel and gazed reso-
lutely into the yellow eyes of the huge
beast.
As if the lion of the desert knew the
lion of Tarascon, he arose, shifted.
growled hollowly, threw his fearful jaws
wide open and emitted a deafening roar.
With yell of fright Tarascon pre-
cipNated itself toward the exit, bear
ing in its very front the brave COM
mandant himself Only one human be-
ing remained. 1t was Tartarin Of
Tarascon, undaunted. gazing at the
lion with lightning in his eye.
When the other sportsmen drew near
again, they card him mutter: Now
this is something like huntl'
The next day there was nothing else
talked of in town except the approach :
ing departure of Tartarin for Algeria
to hunt lions. Tartarin himself was
surprised at the news. But he could
not bear to deny it. So he replied:
AHA! We shall see" to the first few
hundred inquiries, and to the next he
said: VERY likely" And by afternoon
he answered: Its certain!'
That night at Costecaldes and later
at the club he was feted and could not
resist the temptation of explaining his
plans in full. They took him home with
torch es and huzzas.
The next morning Tartarin decided
that the start need not be immediate.
Besides he had to read up on lions.
From his favorite authors he learned
that the great hunters of big game
hundred themselves well before an ex-
| water and broth, and to train himself
| for long marches be began to trot
| around the town with his elbows well
| set against his body and couple of
white pebbles in his mouth. according
to the antique usage.
Every dusk he went into his garden
and stayed there till 10 or IL, alone
his boabab. And as long as the menag-
! erie tarrled the people saw mysterl-
GUS figure lurking outside Of the tent.
1t was Tartarin, habituating himself to
| hear without a termor the roaring OF
! the lion in the night.
! Cap shooting actually stopped while
! Tartarin was thus preparing himself
/! The ladies fought for him, to hear from
his own lips all about the great lions
! of the Atlas. AT dinner parties the
J guests could hardly wait for the coffee
to be brought that they might ask
| questions. Then he would tell of tn
moonless nights when he would lie in
wait, the scorpions. the ferocious
Bedouins. and, most of all. the immense
named lions.
! Heated with his recital he would bound
J to his feet, initiate the roar of lion and
cracki bangl the report of the rifle, over
/ setting the chairs, gesticulating, shouting
! till everybody turned pale
Meantime, Tartarin did not start.
| suu, it might have redounded a. much