CAUGHT IN THE ACT. 373 



44 1 am going to have one or both of those tiger kittens, or die in the attempt," 

 said Dick, when they reined up shortly after in front of the native's hut by the way- 

 side. " I propose that we shall leave all the rest here, while you and I steal back 

 along the highway and see what we can see." 



44 1 like the suggestion, for I don't believe we can all hide from her, and the 

 natives are really of no account in the task we have undertaken, or rather, are 

 about to undertake." 



This proposition, as may be supposed, was not objected to by the others, and 

 it was about the middle of the afternoon when Dick and Mr. Godkin set out on 

 foot to return to the little stream which had been the scene of so many stirring 

 occurrences of the day. 



They met no persons, either riding or on foot, and reached a point about half 

 way down the hill before they stoppe^ Deeming it unwise to go farther, they 

 softly crept into the jungle to wait, with little prospect of success, as any one must 

 admit who studies the situation. 



But that which they wished to come to pass did so sooner than they dared hope. 



They had no more than comfortably established themselves in the thick vege- 

 tation, so close to the highway that, by parting the bushes in front, they could 

 look down to the bottom of the hill and see the gleam of the water in the small 

 stream that wound its way across the road, when Mr. Godkin exclaimed, in an ex- 

 cited whisper : 



44 By gracious 1 there she is now 1 " 



Sure enough, as Dick peered forth he discerned the identical beast, which had 

 emerged from the same point in the jungle where she had vanished, and approached 

 the water. She was in the middle of the highway, and was walking slowly, 

 swinging her tail from side to side, and looking straight ahead. She was so near 

 that she was seen to be licking her bloody jaws. 



44 A tiger often stops to drink while eating," whispered Mr. Godkin, " and that is 

 what she is after." 



Such proved to be the fact. Arriving on the edge of the stream, the tiger 

 lowered her head and lapped the cool current, just as the cat species do when 

 taking a drink. 



She quickly slaked her thirst, and then, raising her head, looked around, as if 

 to say : 



44 If there are any more of you folks that would like to pay me a visit, I'd b* 

 glad to welcome you." 



"It can't be she sees us," said Dick, "but why does she look so long in thi 

 direction ? " 



44 There she goes I n 



The tiger turned about and walked back with the same deliberate tread untL 

 opposite the point where she had emerged from the jungle, when she made a leap 

 into it and disappeared. 



But she did so on the opposite side of the highway. 



