HABITS OF THE TIGER. 
215 
“I should like to think it true,” said Sid¬ 
ney. “ I like all stories about presence of 
mind.” 
“ Oh, you may believe it, if you please,” 
said Miss Louisa, smiling. “ It rests upon 
very good authority; and it is undoubtedly 
true that the tiger, if disappointed in his 
first spring, will often retire sulkily without 
attempting it a second time.” 
‘^Do you know any more stories about 
tigers ?” asked Sidney. 
“ Plenty more,” replied Miss Winston, 
smiling; “ but I must refer you to the 
books for them, as we have more than used 
up our time for to-night. To-morrow we 
will begin upon the lion,—the king of 
beasts, as he is called.” 
The next day proved altogether rainy. 
Rain, rain, a steady determined down-pour, 
from morning till night, entirely preventad 
any going out of the house. Sport re¬ 
treated to his kennel, and lay with his nose 
on his paws, and a very disgusted expression 
of countenance, looking sometimes at the 
clouds, sometimes at the chickens, who were 
poking about in the rain, with their feathers 
all wet and draggled, and at the ducks, who 
