360 THE TIGER. 



You can imagine the intense interest with which the others watched the move- 

 ments of Jack. 



The native who was on foot climbed upon the back of Mr. Godkin's elephant, 

 so that none was unmounted. 



Jack had not ridden twenty paces into the tall grass when all were startled by 

 seeing him rein up his horse with a suddenness which proved that he had made an 

 important discovery. 



" It can't be the tiger," remarked Mr. Godkin, without removing his gaze from 

 the man. 



" No, there's something on the ground close to his pony's head," replied Dick. 



Jack spent but a minute or two in scrutiny, when, without dismounting, he gal- 

 loped back to his friends. 



He explained his ghastly discovery. 



Observing that the grass appeared to have been trampled near where he halted, 

 he examined it closely, and saw several bones lying on the ground, their appearance 

 showing that the flesh had been gnawed from them very recently. 



A brief scrutiny left no doubt in the mind of the native that they were a part 01 

 the remains of the poor girl who had been carried off by the tiger only a few hours 

 before. 



" Depend upon it, he isn't far away," said Mr. Godkin, when the dreadful inci- 

 dent was told. 



" Do you think he is in the grass ? " 



" Very likely." 



Jack once more turned the pony about and entered the parched tract, while the 

 others edged their beasts, a little closer behind him : the fellow was braver than 

 most of his race, or he would not have done this. Dick saw no signs of trepidation 

 on his part, but there could be no doubt that he appreciated the peril into which he 

 was entering. 



This time he rode a couple of rods in advance of where he had halted on his first 

 entry. His pony stepped very deliberately, with his head high in air, and his ears 

 thrown forward, as if he fully understood his danger. 



All at once he stopped again, and then it was that Dick Brownell and Carl God- 

 kin witnessed one of the most striking tableaux on which they had ever gazed. 



From a point only a few yards in advance of the horseman a gigantic tiger rose 

 from the grass, so that his whole body was in plain sight, and, facing the native, 

 looked straight at him. 



He did not growl nor sway his tail, but stood in the attitude of curiosity or 

 inquiry, as if seeking to learn the meaning of the disturbance. The pony held 

 precisely the same attitude. Instead of whirling about and dashing off, as would 

 have been natural, he braced himself as rigidly as a bronze statue, with his front 

 hoofs planted close together, his head aloft, and his eyes staring at the terror in 

 tront of him. 



Whether or not the rider was transfixed by fear cannot be said, but he also 



