of bronze was round the throat of each, and on the
collar was a massive chain which led to the wall, where it could be
payed out or hauled in by means of a windlass in one of the hidden
galleries. So that at ordinary moments the two huge beasts could be
tethered, one close to either end of the circus, as the litter of bones
and other messes showed, leaving free passage-way between the two sets
of doors.

But when I stood there by the arrow-slit, looking down into the
moonlight of the circus, these chains were slackened (though men stood
by the windlass of each), and the great striped brutes were prowling
about the circus with the links clanking and chinking in their wake.
Lying stark on the pavement were the bodies of some eight men, dead
and uneaten; and though the cave-tigers stopped their prowlings now and
again to nuzzle these, and beat them about with playful paw-blows, they
made no pretence at commencing a meal. It was clear that this cruel
sport had grown common to them, and they knew there were other victims
yet to be added to the tally.

Presently, sure enough, as I watched, a valve of the farther gate swung
back an arm's length, and a prisoner, furiously resisting, was thrust
out into the circus. He fell on his face, and after one look around him
he lay resolutely still, with eyes on the ground passively awaiting
his fate. The ponderous stone of the gate clapped to in its place; the
cave-tigers turned in their prowlings; and a chatter of wagers ran to
and fro amongst the watchers behind the arrow-slits.

It seemed there were niceties of cruelty in this wretched game. There
was a sharp clank as the windlasses were manned, and the tethering
chains were drawn in by perhaps a score of links. One of the cave-tigers
crouched, lashed its tail, and launched forth on a terrific spring.
The chain tautened, the massive links sang to the strain, and the great
beast gave a roar which shook the walls. It had missed the prone man by
a hand's breadth, and the watchers behind the arrow-slits shrieked forth
their delight. The other tiger sprang also and missed, and again there
were shouts of pleasure, which mingled with the bellowing voices of the
beasts. The man lay motionless in his form. One more cowardly, or
one more brave, might have run from death, or faced it; but this poor
prisoner chose the middle course--he permitted death to come to him, and
had enough of doggedness to wait for it without stir.

The great cave-ti