Budd Boyd's Triumph Part 35

"Unless you'd rather throw the bone," hesitated Bessy, her heart giving way.

"There's not the least danger for you, Bessy. And I'm a better judge of tigers. I'm more familiar with their habits than you."

Off went Bessy, and finding a half-eaten roast of beef in the pantry, she opened the kitchen window, her heart choking her as she did it, and flung it out with all her strength. There was a rush from the shed, but Bessy had closed the shutters and was flying up the stairs. Halfway up stood Jack, pale and breathless.

"Was it the tiger?"

"Yes."

"Oh, Jack!" Bessy clasped her hands. "Is he--is he big?"

"Oh, he's a monster. His eyes are like coals of fire." Jack jerked out the words as he dashed down the stairs and out of the front door, shouting, "Police! police!"

One can easily guess what followed then. When Mrs. Leigh came home from market, a dense crowd packed the street for half a square from her house, on the outskirts of which skirmished women, with babies in their arms, boys open-mouthed, and cart-men cracking their whips, whose horses stood waiting in a crowd at the corner. In front of the door stood one of the vans of the menagerie. Wild cries of "The tiger!" "The lion!"

resounded from side to side, and every time the door opened the crowd fell back, expecting him to charge on them. Way was made for Mrs.

Leigh. Everybody looked at her with respect.

"He's in your house, ma'am."

"It was your son that discovered him."

Mrs. Leigh hurried in, terrified at the thought of what might have befallen her children. The house was filled with men. Policemen were in full force to keep order. The keepers from the menagerie had a net suspended over the door of the shed, to catch the tiger when it should rush out. Half a dozen men stood with guns ready pointed, in case he should attack them.

"But don't fire, unless in case of absolute necessity," pleaded the keeper. "Consider the cost, gentlemen. That beast is worth, as he stands, two thousand dollars."

"What's your two thousand dollars to us?" growled one of the men, c.o.c.king his gun. "Consider our lives."

n.o.body as yet had seen the tiger but Jack, who stood in an upper window, the observed of all observers.

The keepers went on with their preparations. It was their plan to shoot into the shed, over the tiger's head, and when he charged on them, capture him in the net.

"Let every man take care of himself," said the keeper. "Fire if we do not secure him. Are you ready, men?"

The men, with pale faces, lowered the net. "All right!"

"Look out, then. One, two, three!"

"Bang!" went the pistol over the beast's head. There was a moment's pause, and then a fierce dash and a shriek from the people, caught up and echoed by the crowd outside. The men tugged at their net and caught--

"Brown's big yellow dog!" shouted the policemen.

"Where's that young coward that fooled us?" The keepers raged and the crowd cheered.

But Jack had hidden away with his shame and could not be found. He never was known to brag again.