multitude now grew impatient. Murmurs arose and cries and shouts
with the intention of maddening the tiger and urging him on.

But now, even in the midst of the tumult, there came forth the sound of
a voice deep and terrible:

"How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not avenge our blood on them
that dwell upon the earth?"

A deep stillness followed. Every one in surprise looked at his neighbor.
But the silence was soon broken by the same voice, which rang out in
terrific emphasis:

"Behold, he cometh in the clouds,
And every eye shall see him,
And they also which pierced him,
And all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Even so. Amen!
Thou art righteous, O Lord,
Which art, and wast, and shalt be,
Because thou hast judged thus.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
And thou hast given them blood to drink,
For they are worthy.
Even so, Lord God Almighty,
True and righteous are thy judgments!"

But now murmurs and cries and shouts passed around. Soon the cause of
the disturbance became known.

"It is an accursed Christian"--"It is the fanatic Cinna"--"He has been
confined four days without, food"--"Bring him out"--"Throw him to the
tiger!"

Shouts and execrations arose on high and mingled in one vast roar. The
tiger leaped in frenzy around. The keepers within heard the words of the
multitude and hurried to obey.

Soon the gratings opened. The victim was thrust in.

Fearfully emaciated and ghastly pale, he tottered forward with tremulous
steps. His eyes had an unearthly luster, his cheeks a burning flush, and
his neglected hair and long beard were matted in a tangled mass.

The tiger saw him, and came leaping toward him. Then at a little
distance away the furious beast crouched. The boy arose from his knees
and looked. But Cinna saw no tiger. He fixed his eyes on the multitude,
and waving his withered arm on high he shouted in the same tone of menace:

"Woe! woe! woe to the inhabitants of the earth--"

His voice was hushed in blood. There was a leap, a fall, and all was over.

And now the tiger turned toward the boy. His thirst for blood was fully
aroused; with bristling hair, flaming eyes, and sweeping tail he stood
facing his prey.

The boy saw that the end was coming, and again fell upon his knees. The
crowd was hushed to stillness, and awaited in deep excitement the new
scene of slaughter. The man who had been g