TIGER'S TEETH 107 



sea. Once more he pushed away from the 

 ledge, which was about two feet wide, 

 swung towards it, grasped a projecting 

 stone, clung hard with his left hand, and 

 gave one tug on the guide rope. Up above 

 they lowered him one foot, and he clambered 

 to the ledge, panting. 



In the centre of the cradle of sticks, a 

 yard across, gaped three fledgeling ravens. 

 At sight of Tiger they opened their big 

 black beaks in fear and croaked dolefully. 

 He put his hand over and one pecked at it; 

 he struck it a sharp blow and it croaked the 

 more, deep, rasping, and hoarse. 



Tiger knew he would have to hurry. 

 He seized one of the three birds by the leg 

 and dragged it from the fouled nest, to which 

 it clung gawkily. But at last it was free, its 

 legs tied with the twine already looped to 

 his belt, and thrust into his basket. Quickly 

 he seized the other two and tied them, 

 noticing while he did so that pieces of dead 

 gulls, rabbits, chickens, lamb's wool, fish, 



