378 TWO CURIOSITIES. 



was reached, they were squirming about with a vigor that compelled attention. 

 It was now arranged that each of the hunters should carry a young one in his 

 arms. This liad its disadvantages, and both Mr. Godkin and Dick received some 

 scratches ; bur, by humoring the little terrors, they managed to get them to the 

 wayside hut, where, as may be supposed, their arrival produced a stir amounting 

 almost to consternation. 



In this simple dwelling dwelt an old man and his daughter, a middle-aged 

 woman, who were sure that the mother of the kittens would follow the kidnapers to 

 fhe spot, and slay every one of the party. 



Jed and the other natives were of the same opinion, until assured that the 

 mother had departed this life. 



Mr. Godkin was waggish enough to try to make the rest believe that Dick had 

 fired the shot that killed the second tiger, as he had fired the one that slew the 

 first ; but, inasmuch as it was all he could do to persuade them that the second had 

 really been killed, he stuck to the facts. 



it could not be denied that our friends had done an inestimable service to the 

 neighborhood by ridding it of two such dreaded man-eaters, and when the natives 

 should come to learn the glad tidings there would be hardly anything that they 

 would not willingly do to prove their gratitude. 



The owner of the hut knew the postman who had been killed by the tiger, and 

 gave his name to Jed, who promised to inform his relatives living in Lucknow. As 

 for the destroyed mail, that would have to be left to other parties to look after. 



" But we've got the kittens," said Dick, exultingly, " and what shall we do with 

 them." 



" Send them to Lucknow by Jed ; I will give him the name of our friend there, 

 with whom I made arrangements the other day, and he will take good care of 

 anything we may forward, until we are ready to ship them to Calcutta, and thence 

 to England and home." The suggestion was a wise one, and it was carried out. 



With the help of the native at whose hut they were stopping, a bamboo cage 

 was constructed, large enough to hold the tiger kittens, while, at the same time, it 

 could be carried without inconvenience on the horse in front of the rider. 



Lucknow was so nigh that it was but a moderate ride thither, and Jed gladly 

 undertook the duty of delivering the prizes to the gentleman named by Mr. Godkin, 

 and who was well known. 



It was so late in the day, however, that the entire party spent the night in and 

 around the hut of their host, who received liberal payment for his food and some- 

 what primitive accommodations. 



Early the next day Jed left with his prizes, promising to come back and join his 

 new friends in their hunt for other curiosi*s- 



On the same day that witnessed the departure of the native Jed with the two 

 tiger kittens, our friends moved their quarters several miles to the southwest. This 

 took them somewhat farther from Lucknow, which, however, may be said to have 

 been within easy reach. 



