A FRIGHTFUL OCCURRENCE. 367 



" I don't intend to creep up and try to take them away from her ; but we've got 

 to steal them when she's off hunting for food. Come, Mr. Godkin, I'm ready if you 

 are." 



Ordinarily it would have been hard, if not impossible, to hire a number of natives 

 to take part in such a desperate enterprise ; but the exploit of Dick Brownell, in 

 slaying the terrible scourge, gave them such boundless faith in his bravery and 

 skill that they were ready to follow him anywhere. 



A* a consequence the four signified their readiness to join in the hunt for the 

 tiger kittens. 



The preparations for the desperate venture were simple and soon made. It 

 was arranged that Jed, Dick and Mr. Godkin should ride cautiously forward, the 

 three servants following them at a short distance. Since they were afoot, and 

 armed with only their primitive weapons, it was prudent that they should keep well 

 to the rear, so as to escape any sudden onslaught of the savage beast. 



Jed was to point out the spot where she had entered the jungle, and it then 

 remained for our friends to locate the home of the animal and to await her depart- 

 ure, if she was still with her young, before attempting to steal them. 



Jed displayed more bravery than would have been expected, for he insisted on 

 keeping several rods in advance of the other horsemen. He seemed to think, and 

 not without reason, that his greater experience in hunting all kinds of wild animals 

 would enable him to detect the proximity of the beast before the Americans. Jo, 

 Jack and Jim were nearly two hundred yards to the rear of the proprietors, as they 

 may be called, of the enterprise. 



It will be remembered that the point where Jed had seen the female crossing 

 the highway with her young was at the bottom of a long hill, consequently the exact 

 spot could not be distinguished until the head of the slope was reached, so as to 

 permit the horsemen to look downward in front at the small stream which crossed 

 the highway. 



Jed was yet some distance off, his pony proceeding on a walk, when he was 

 observed to check his animal, turn his head, and motion with his hand for his 

 friends to halt. 



They obeyed, wondering what it meant. 



44 Hark ! " whispered Dick ; " do you hear that ? " 



Listening intently, the faint, regular tinkling of a small bell was heard coming 

 from a point beyond the hill and not far from the spot our friends were approaching. 



While Dick and Mr. Godkin were looking they observed the figure of a native 

 descending the opposite slope and coming toward them. He was nearly naked, 

 except for a voluminous turban and a light muslin skirt around his middle. He was 

 advancing on a loping trot, bearing on his shoulder a slim pole, to one end of 

 which was attached a small bell that gave out the tinkling which arrested the at- 

 tention of the party. 



This fellow was one of the native postmen of India, who carry the mail ia 

 that fashion. Unmindful of the sweltering weather, one of those tough runners 



