A FRIGHTFUL OCCURRED 369 



It is more than probable that the postman had met his death by the means Mr. 

 Godkin referred to. The tiger most likely was nursing her young at some distance 

 from the roadside, when she caught the tintinnabulation, whose meaning she knew. 

 Leaving her kittens in their new bed, she crept noiselessly out to the side of the 

 highway and awaited the coming of the man with the tinkling bell. 



Then followed the long, fearful leap, and the native was borne to the earth, and 

 so frightfully torn that his sufferings were mercifully ended almost as soon as they 

 began. 



Looking down the hill, the spectators saw the tiger holding the body of the man 

 in her mouth, just as she would have carried one of her kittens. She had crushed 

 him down in the middle of the highway, and, lifting his body so that only his bare 

 heels touched the ground, she trotted from the road into the jungle with no more 

 apparent effort than if carrying one of her tiny young. 



This proof of the prodigious strength of the tiger was not needed by our 

 friends, but they were so impressed by what they saw, that for a few minutes they 

 looked in each other's face without speaking. 



" What a pity we did not arrive sooner," was the remark of Dick, made in a low 

 voice, as if afraid of attracting the attention of their terrible enemy. 



" Yes ; and the fact that that man lost his life through his own shortsightedness 

 cannot lessen our pity for him. I tell you, Dick, I think Mr. Barnum will excuse 

 you from capturing one or two young tigers." 



" But I will not excuse myself," was the sturdy response. " I am more resolved 

 than ever to rob that merciless beast of her offspring." 



" All right ; I am with you ; but it strikes me that since she has secured a good 

 day's meal, she will not be apt to leave her young for some time, and we are likely 

 to have a tedious wait of it." 



" I am afraid so, but I was thinking that if it was her husband which we shot, 

 she may set out to hunt him up, if he stays out too late." 



Mr. Godkin looked inquiringly at Jed, who nodded his head. 



"Mebbe so don't know wait see." 



" Where shall we wait ? " was the important question which Dick proposed for 

 joint consideration. 



By this time Jo, Jack and Jim had gained enough courage to move forward and 

 join the horsemen, when they quickly learned all that had taken place. 



The reasonable conclusion was formed by all that the tiger would be likely to 

 indulge in her siesta during the afternoon, breaking it only at long intervals to go 

 to the brook near at hand to quench her thirst. Toward night she would probably 

 set out to look for her mate, or perhaps to seek more game, though after such a 

 feast she could conveniently go several days without any food. 



The decision was to ride silently down the hill and up the opposite one. Jed 

 informed them that a native hut stood but a small distance beyond. There they 

 would leave their animals, and carefully make their way back to the spot, approach- 

 ing as near as they dared. They would then hide themselves in the dense jungle, 



