1831.] The Tigers Cave. 261 



trees with which the storm had strewed our way, and the slipperiness 

 of the road, our flight was slow and difficult. 



We had proceeded thus for about a quarter of an hour, when we 

 found that our way led along the edge of a rocky cliff with innumerable 

 Assures. We had just entered upon it, when suddenly the Indians, 

 who were before us, uttered one of their piercing shrieks, and we imme- 

 diately became aware that the tigers were in pursuit of us. Urged 

 by despair, we rushed towards one of the breaks or gulfs in our way, 

 over which was thrown a bridge of reeds, that sprung up and down at 

 every step, and could be trod with safety by the light foot of the Indians 

 alone. Deep in the hollow below rushed an impetuous stream, and a 

 thousand pointed and jagged rocks threatened destruction on every side. 

 Lincoln, my huntsman, and myself, passed over the chasm in safety ; 

 but Wharton was still in the middle of the waving bridge, and endea- 

 vouring to steady himself, when both the tigers were seen to issue from 

 the adjoining forest ; and the moment they descried us they bounded 

 towards us with dreadful roarings. Meanwhile Wharton had nearly 

 gained the safe side of the gulf, and we were all clambering up the 

 rocky cliff except Lincoln, who remained at the reedy bridge to assist 

 his friend to step upon firm ground. Wharton, though the ferocious 

 animals were close upon him, never lost his courage or presence of mind. 

 As soon as he had gained the edge of the cliff he knelt down, and with 

 his sword divided the fastenings by which the bridge was attached to 

 the rock. He expected that an effectual barrier would thus be put to 

 the further progress of our pursuers ; but he was mistaken, for he had 

 scarcely accomplished his task, when the tigress, without a moment's 

 pause, rushed towards the chasm, and attempted to bound over it. It 

 was a fearful sight to see the mighty animal for a moment in the air 

 above the abyss ; but her strength was not equal to the distance she 

 fell into the gulf, and before she reached the bottom she was torn into 

 3, thousand pieces by the jagged points of the rocks. Her fate did not 

 in the least dismay her companion, he followed her with an immense 

 spring, and reached the opposite side, but only with his fore claws ; 

 and thus he clung to the edge of the precipice, endeavouring to gain a 

 footing. The Indians again uttered a wild shriek, as if all hope had 

 been lost. But Wharton, who was nearest the edge of the rock, 

 advanced courageously towards the tiger, and struck his sword into the 

 animal's breast. Maddened with pain, the furious beast collected all 

 his strength, and fixing one of his hind legs upon the edge of the cliff, 

 he seized Wharton by the thigh. That heroic man still preserved his 

 fortitude ; hej grasped the stem of a tree with his left hand, to steady 

 and support himself, while with his right he wrenched, and violently 

 turned the sword that was still in the breast of the tiger. All this was 

 the work of an instant. The Indians, Frank, and myself, hastened to 

 his assistance; but Lincoln, who was already at his side, had seized 

 Wharton's gun, which lay near upon the ground, and struck so powerful 

 a blow with the butt end upon the head of the tiger, that the animal, 

 stunned and overpowered, let go his hold, and fell back into the abyss. 

 The unhappy Lincoln, however, had not calculated upon the force of 

 his blow : he staggered forward, reeled upon the edge of the precipice, 

 extended his hand to seize upon any thing to save himself but in vain. 

 For an instant he hovered over the gulf, and then fell into it, to rise no 

 more. 



