Year: 1862

and the keepers thinking nothing unusual to
be the matter. merely cursed the unruly brutes
for destroying the unity of their rest. and
turning back went to sleep again.


As soon As quiet was restored, we slit hole
In the canvas, for we were afraid to emerge
by the aperture which faced the tavern, rolled
our hogshead through the ward to the back
gate. This we unfastened and passed into the
road, started at quick rate for our spot of
destruction. Over and over went the hogs
head, the animal within growled at the rough
treatment he experienced, and we nearly con.
vulsed with laughter at the uncOuthness OF the
noise which he made.


At length we reached the back part of the
college, when one of our party climbed over
the wall and unfastened the gate. We rolled
in our prize to the back door of the labora-
tory, which was the place where our professor
of chemistry lectured. We found that in
consequence of the narrowness of the passage
through the door, the hogshead would not en-
ter. Such being the case, we were about to
start the animal through the open door, when
an idea more redOlent of fun struck the fancy
OF Somers. Back of the lecture room was
small apartment containing odds and ends,
and which was not visited, perhaps, once a
month. He said rightly, that if we placed
Bruin in this apartment, he would not be
likely to be discovered until during the lecture
the noise he would be apt to make attracting
attention, the plot would readily be brought
to crisis. We Joined our strength. and upon
our shoulders up went the hogshead until it
was placed on a level with the window. a
light young fellow, the smallest of the party,
climbed up, hoisted up the window, and sided
up the lid of the cask. We shook the hogs
head violently, but at first to no purpose
The animal was thoroughly frightened, and
lay still, or with only an occasional growl
We shook it again and he started. There
was but one possible mode of progression,
which was straight forward, and the brute
gave a spring through the window. There
was a crash of glass, howl, and then the ter
rifed animal, crOuching in the corner, re-
mained silent. Our little companion closed
the sash and leaped down. We rolled the
hogshead up into corner of the yard, and
returning to our rooms continued our revelry
till near daylight.


II was about noon when | awoke | hur-
ried on my clothes, passed a wet towel around
nv head, swallowed some soda water, and af-
forwards cup OF coffee, and then fastened
to the college. 1t was the hour of professor
of chemistry, and | entered the room just as
they had commenced to descant upon the sub
ject. The class were all wrapt in attention
for the lecturer was an able man, and was
treating upon Light" matter of interest,
and capable of beautiful illustration. He had
scarcely finished his short and eloquent exor-
dunn, before we heard the crash of bottles,
and low, startling growing in the next
room. The professor started, and stopped a
moment, while those of the class not in the
secret, looked at each in astonshment There
was a pause of few seconds duration, and
then the professor proceeded.


| began to feel alarmed, as | remembered
what had been done the night before. Under
ordinary circumstances there was no danger
to be apprehended. The bear was tame
enough, and had been whipped until he had
imbibed a proper sense of the superiority of
man. But from the sounds | Judged that
Bruin had worked himself into room only
separated from us by thin partition full of
windows, in which were kept the various
drugs used in illustrating experiments. There
were great many carboys and bottles OF
acid in the room. Should he overset any of
these, and the contents touch his skin, he
would be apt to break through the windows
of the apartment, and do some mischief be-
fore we could secure him. BY the looks of
my companions, l saw they entertained the
same fears


There was another crash and growl The
professor stopped again, and the class looked
around in dismay. Those who were acquaint-
ed with the cause of the noise could scarcely
keep their countenance. In spite of the
alarm under which they labored there was
something ludicrous in the growl, especially
when we figured to ourselves the coming con-
Il 4 IL. ~ III,
refrain from laughing outright. The profes-
sor, who could not tell from whence the sound
proceeded and thought it trick of the class
reproved them severely, and then continued
his lecture. "Gentlemen," said he, prepare
for brilliant experiment; | will show you a
most startling effect"


And he did. Hark. There was a sudden
crash as if every bottle In the place had been
destroyed at once-a smoke rose up-there
was a terrible howl that made the blood cur
die, and the marrow thrill-and through the
frail glass-Father of Truth we had mistaken
the cagc-there leaped forth, infuriated with
the burning liquid which streamed over him
horror-an untamed royal tiger.


No words can describe the CONSERVATION o
the class. Petrifed with horror-motionles
there we sat. Not a muscle quivered, 81
rlIlu were We Nllu 1UteU>t ltdT. IL Nd> Oul
preservation. Nladdened with pain the ami
NAL rushed on with terrific bounds, and meet
ing with no obstacle, passed down the stair
into the great hall. There as he leaped anC
rolled and howled in his agony, the eldes
daughter of our janitor, coming with a mes
sage, unwithngly entered. She screamed anC
fell. The tiger, frantic with the acid, whicl
was eating his very flesh, needed her not
On he dashed and the girl lived. Better haC
she died, for never again shone the light o
reason in those vacant eyes. From that da,
forth, she was a gibbering, incurable idiot.


On passed the tiger, out through the streets
with the populace flying TO every side 70
sheter-past his old prison where the keep
ers stood wondering at his escape. On h
went, while behind him, before and aroun,
rose the mingled cry of men. women and chill
dren-"The tiger! the tiger


At the extremity OF the main street, a tray
eler was riding quietly to his house. III
heard the noise behind him, and casting hi
ewes saw the cause. He spurred his horse
who started snorting with terror, for he sa'
the coming of the mighty animal as well a
his master. 1t was in vain. The tiger note
not the man. He only saw the terrified steeC
One leap-the distance was just saved-an
he put his claws into the hind quarters of th