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At the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs
page 68 of 177 (38%)
lost, but at the very moment that the beasts were upon them the man
grasped his companion by the arm and together they leaped to one
side, while the frenzied creatures came together like locomotives
in collision.

There ensued a battle royal which for sustained and frightful
ferocity transcends the power of imagination or description. Time
and again the colossal bull tossed the enormous tiger high into the
air, but each time that the huge cat touched the ground he returned
to the encounter with apparently undiminished strength, and seemingly
increased ire.

For a while the man and woman busied themselves only with keeping
out of the way of the two creatures, but finally I saw them separate
and each creep stealthily toward one of the combatants. The tiger
was now upon the bull's broad back, clinging to the huge neck with
powerful fangs while its long, strong talons ripped the heavy hide
into shreds and ribbons.

For a moment the bull stood bellowing and quivering with pain and
rage, its cloven hoofs widespread, its tail lashing viciously from
side to side, and then, in a mad orgy of bucking it went careening
about the arena in frenzied attempt to unseat its rending rider.
It was with difficulty that the girl avoided the first mad rush of
the wounded animal.

All its efforts to rid itself of the tiger seemed futile, until
in desperation it threw itself upon the ground, rolling over and
over. A little of this so disconcerted the tiger, knocking its
breath from it I imagine, that it lost its hold and then, quick
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