io8 TIGER'S TEETH 



frogs, and broken ducks' eggs lay about 

 on the twigs. At last he had secured them, 

 and left the ledge. The old birds, if they 

 were near, made no sign. For a while 

 Tiger swung idly, satisfied, looking lazily 

 at the tide below. A few stones hurtled 

 down, and one hit his wrist, numbing it; 

 the fledgelings kicked and struggled, squawk- 

 ing. Three minutes, and his swinging was 

 much lessened; he gave five tugs for the 

 hauling signal. 



There was no response, for just before 

 John Smith and Aaron had realised with 

 fear that the crowbar had worked loose in 

 the sward. Unthinkingly they had relaxed 

 the strain, and the loose stratum had yielded. 



The Tiger tugged away, but there was no 

 answering lift. Five times he tugged, slowly. 

 He hung still over the rocks, whence the 

 tide was now ebbing, leaving them gaunt 

 and gray. 



Up above the two men held tight. They 

 dared not move, for fear of the bar coming 



