CHAPTER LXVII. 



A FRIGHTFUL OCCURRENCE. 



,MONG the natives who crowded admiringly around the tiger-hunters was one 

 whose unusual intelligence attracted their notice. He was mounted on a 

 pony similar to theirs, and seemed such a desirable companion that Mr. 

 Godkin asked him to form one of their company, offering him liberal pay for his 

 services. 



The new recruit, who was immediately christened Jed, accepted the offer at 

 once. He possessed considerable experience of the kind needed by our friends, 

 and it was a wise proceeding on the part of Mr. Godkin thus to engage him. 



"It would have been a fine thing," remarked Dick, "if we could have captured 

 that tiger for Mr. Barnum, instead of killing him." 



"That was out of the question," replied Mr. Godkin. " Can you help us, Jed, to 

 get one or two tiger kittens? " 



" Yes, sahib," was the prompt response. 



Jed then explained that, while riding rapidly along the road, and when hardly K 

 mile distant, he was descending a long hill and was near a small stream which 

 crossed the highway, when he was terrified almost out of his senses by seeing an 

 enormous tiger emerge from the jungle on his right, and trot across the road in 

 front, less than a hundred feet distant. 



Jed's horse stopped short, and the rider was on the point of wheeling about and 

 dashing back to Lucknow, when he observed that the animal was a female, and 

 was carrying a kitten in her mouth. 



The mother tiger is very affectionate, and she was so engaged in her task that 

 she paid no heed to anything else. 



Reaching the side of the dusty highway, she bounded into the jungle on the 

 other side and disappeared. 



Jed spurred his horse forward and passed the spot like a whirlwind. Looking 

 back, after going a considerable distance, he saw precisely the same thing repeated. 

 The tiger was trotting across the road again with a second kitten in her mouth. 

 Jed, feeling quite safe, halted his horse and waited several minutes, but nothing 

 more was observed of the beast. The conclusion of this narrative was that the 

 tiger had two young at least, the usual number being from three to five. She was 

 undoubtedly the mate of the tiger that had been killed, and the coveted opportunity 

 of obtaining her offspring was presented. 



" But I tell you it's mighty dangerous business," said Mr. Godkin, compressing 

 his lips and shaking his head ; "you would not think a fiercer brute than the one we 

 have just shot could exist, but wait till you see a tiger mother defending her young." 



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