293 



perfectly adequate to the execution of his menaces, 

 and Sarah judged it most prudent to obey his com- 

 mands. But as she followed Tiger into the wood, 

 she took care to resume her song of 



6 Ho-day, poor me, O ! ' 



in hopes that some one passing near them might 

 hear her name, and come to her rescue. Tiger, 

 however, was aware of this, and positively forbad 

 her singing. However, she contrived every now 

 and then to loiter behind ; and when she thought 

 him out of hearing, her 



( Ho-day ! poor me, O ! ? 



began again ; although she was compelled to sing 

 in so low a voice, through fear of her four-footed 

 master, that she had but faint hopes of its reaching 

 any ear but her own. Such was, indeed, the event, 

 and Tiger conveyed her to his den without molest- 

 ation. In the meanwhile, her two half-brothers 

 had heard of their mother's death, and soon ar- 

 rived at the house to enquire what was become of 

 Sarah. The aunt received them with every appear- 

 ance of welcome; told them that grief for the loss 

 of her only surviving parent had already carried 

 her niece to the grave, which she showed them in 

 her garden ; and acted her part so well, that the 

 youths departed perfectly satisfied of the decease 

 of their sister. But while passing through the 

 wood on their return, they heard some one sing- 

 ing, but in so low a tone that it was impossible to 



u 3 



