374 CAUGHT IN THE ACT. 



" That's lucky ! " exclaimed Dick, "she's gone off to hunt her mate. Now's our 

 time ! " 



"You may be right, but it will be awfully awkward if she happens to come back 

 before we can get away." 



"Come on ; every minute counts." 



It was just like the lad to push his way through the jungle into the road, and to 

 go down the hill almost on a run, Mr. Godkin finding it hard to keep up with him. 



Dick did half expect the mother to return, but he believed that, after the two 

 bullets sent into her body, he and his companion could make short work of her with 

 their weapons. 



You will suspect that his success earlier in the day gave him more self-assur- 

 ance than he should have felt, and I have no doubt such was the fact. 



" Her home can't be far off," remarked Dick, recalling how close the animal 

 was to the highway when she made her desperate effort to leap upon his horse. 



" I shall soon find out," he added, boldly entering the vegetation. " Helloa I 

 this is luck." 



It was less than fifty feet from the road that a faint purring sound fell upon his 

 ear, and the next minute he came upon a couple of beautiful tiger kittens, playing 

 and tumbling over each other like two puppies. 



" Here, hold my gun ! " whispered the excited Dick, running back a few steps, 

 and handing his weapon to Mr. Godkin ; " stay where you are till I return." 



The man was half dazed as he accepted the rifle, by the audacity of the youth, 

 who, without giving him time to protest, ran forward again, and, paying no heed to 

 the mangled remains of the poor postman, seized each kitten by the nape of the 

 neck, lifted them clear of the ground and started off. 



The little ones thus'unceremoniously disturbed struggled hard, but he had no 

 difficulty in holding them fast, and, with a heart beating high with exultation, he 

 started back to rejoin his companion, awaiting his return on the edge of the jungle. 



But before he could catch sight of him a muttering growl caused him to turn 

 his head like a flash. 



There stood the infuriated mother, less than twenty feet distant, with her blazing 

 eyes fixed upon him. 



Her attitude seemed to say : 



" Young man, I've returned ! Drop that property of mine and say your prayers." 



