35 2 BUILDING BETTER THAN HE KNEW. 



been ; but, since the royal Bengal has taken a little shy at us, we will give him 

 tussle to-morrow." 



"Do you really mean that?" asked Dick, with sparkling eyes, for one of the 

 most coveted treats he counted upon enjoying in India was a tiger hunt. He was 

 aware of the peril attending such a venture, but you can understand how it was 

 that the very danger was its chief attraction. 



"Yes ; we will arrange a party to hunt him to-morrow in true style. We can 

 ^jet a couple of well-trained elephants at the village, and we will take along Jim, 

 and Jack, and Jo." 



India is the home of the tiger (felts tigris). In some respects he is the most 

 dangerous wild animal that lives. Scientific investigation has proven him to be 

 one-fifth stronger than the lion, while in courage, activity and ferocity he is far his 

 superior. 



The range of the tiger is much less than that of the lion, being unknown in 

 every country except Asia, and flourishing only in the southern and eastern portions 

 of that continent. Certain sections of India are overrun with this dreaded beast. 



While the ship which bore Dick Brownell and Mr. Godkin from Port Natal, lay 

 -anchored inside the Hooghly River, one of the many estuaries of the Ganges, the 

 gentleman made known two interesting facts. A few miles up that broad stream w 

 a beach, outwardly calm, but whose bottom is a shifting quicksand which is almost 

 certain destruction to any steamer that touches it. The sands suck in ships as 

 leeches suck in blood, and always are hungry for more. Skillful pilotage and day- 

 light are necessary to escape the treacherous peril. 



On a low island to the eastward the tigers are more numerous than in any other 

 part of the globe. The keepers of the signal station live within high brick walls 

 and dare not venture a hundred yards beyond them. Refuge houses are built along 

 the coast on high piles, close to the water. Canned food, four hundred gallons of 

 water, a chart with full directions how to find a port and a boat are at each. Large 

 placards are hung up, warning the shipwrecked man to beware of the tigers, and 

 not to attempt co get off* except by day, and at no time to venture into the jungle. 

 The islands a "1 surrounding mainland are swampy, and swarm 'with tigers and 

 crocodiles. 



'*! think \t is the most fearful place in the world," said Mr. Godkin. "When 

 I first came ic India, I was foolish enough to venture into that section on a wager 

 made by a pa/ty of English sportsmen." 



"I suppose you looked upon some strange sights," suggested Dick. 



"More than I ever want to see again," he replied with a shudder ; "how I got 

 back alive is more than I can understand. I was there but a short time, during 

 which I saw a tiger fighting with a crocodile, while its mate stood in the grass 

 alongshore, calmly watching the combat, as if she had no misgivings about the suc- 

 cess of her lord. He seemed to me, however, to be in a tight place, since his head 

 was between the jaws of the crocodile, and the powerful paw didn't appear to do much 

 execution on the iron front of the reptile. 1 didn't stay to see the result of the fight. 



