258 The Tiger's .Cave. [MARCH, 



watches was covered with rust, and the watches stopt. The river beside 

 which we were travelling rushed down with still greater impetuosity ; 

 and from the clefts of the rocks which lay on the left of our path, were 

 suddenly precipitated small rivulets, that bore the roots of trees, and 

 innumerable serpents, along with them. These rivulets often came down 

 so suddenly and so violently, that we had great difficulty in preserving 

 our footing. The thunder at length began to roll, and resounded through 

 the mountainous passes. Then came the lightning, flash following flash 

 above, around, beneath every where a sheet of fire. We sought a 

 temporary shelter in a cleft of the rocks, whilst one of our guides has- 

 tened forward to seek a more secure asylum. In a short time, he 

 returned ; he had discovered a spacious cavern. We proceeded thither 

 immediately, and with great difficulty,, and not a little danger, at last got 

 into it. 



The noise and raging of the storm continued with so much violence, 

 that we could not hear the sound of our own voices. I had placed 

 myself near the entrance of the cave, and could observe, through the 

 opening, which was straight and narrow, the singular scene without. 

 The highest cedar-trees were struck down, or bent like reeds ; monkeys 

 and parrots lay strewed upon the ground, killed by the falling branches ; 

 the water had collected in the path we had just passed, and hurried 

 along it like a mountain- stream. When the storm had somewhat abated, 

 our guides ventured out in order to ascertain if it were possible to con- 

 tinue our journey. The cave in which we had taken refuge was so 

 extremely dark, that, if we moved a few paces from the entrance, we 

 could not see an inch before us ; and we were debating as to the pro- 

 priety of leaving it even before the Indians came back, when we sud- 

 denly heard a singular groaning or growling in the farther end of the 

 cavern, which instantly fixed all our attention. Wharton and myself 

 listened anxiously ; but our daring and inconsiderate young friend, Lin- 

 coln, together with my huntsman, crept about upon their hands and 

 knees, and endeavoured to discover, by groping, from whence the sound 

 proceeded. They had not advanced far into the cavern, before we heard 

 them utter an exclamation of surprise ; and they returned to us, each 

 carrying in his arms an animal singularly marked, and about the size 

 of a cat, seemingly of great strength and power. Wharton had scarcely 

 glanced at them, when he exclaimed in consternation, " Good God ! we 



have come into the den of " He was interrupted by a fecirful cry 



of dismay from our guides, who came rushing precipitately towards us, 

 crying out, " A tiger ! a tiger !" and, at the same time, with extra- 

 ordinary rapidity, they climbed up a cedar-tree, which stood at the 

 entrance of the cave, and hid themselves among the branches. 



After the first sensation of horror and surprise, which rendered me 

 motionless for a moment, had subsided, I graspedmy fire-arms. Whar- 

 ton had already regained his composure and self-possession ; and he 

 called to us to assist him instantly in blocking up the mouth of the cave 

 with an immense stone, which fortunately lay near it. The sense of 

 approaching danger augmented our strength; for we now distinctly 

 heard the growl of the ferocious animal, and we were lost beyond redemp- 

 tion if it reached the entrance before we could get it closed. Ere this 

 was done, we could distinctly see the tiger bounding towards the spot, 

 and stooping in order to creep into his den by the narrow opening. At 

 this fearful moment, our exertions were successful, and the great stone 

 kept the wild beast at bay. There was a small open space, however, 



