Brave Tom | Page 3

kill any one?" asked the scared Tom, somewhat confused by the tremendous narrative of his friend.
"Did I see him kill any one? I should say I did. I seed him kill more than forty!"
"Did he eat 'em all?"
"Of course he did! That is, all but their boots and shoes. He don't seem to like leather," added Jim thoughtfully; "for I noticed that when the men were going down his throat, he kind of shet his jaws, so as to slip off their boots."
"Jim, he must be a big tiger to hold so many folks inside of him."
"Course he is! The biggest that was ever catched in Greenland! He didn't not only swaller the men and boys and women that I'm telling you 'bout, but he took in horses, cows, dogs, and anything in his way. If I ain't mistook, he swallered Mr. MacDowell's two horses with him."
"No, he didn't; for they went by a few minutes ago. But, Jim, what makes you in such a hurry?"
"I'm trying to get away from Tippo Sahib," replied the frightened lad, glancing furtively again toward the village.
"Where's the tiger now?"
"He ain't fur off, and," added Jim, speaking the truth this time, "_the tiger's coming this way, and will soon be here_."
Chapter II.

It was Tom Gordon's turn now to be frightened.
"What!" he exclaimed, almost leaping from his feet; "the tiger coming this way! How do you know that?"
"I seed him! Ain't that enough? He started right up the road on a gallop, with the blood dripping from his jaws!"
"But where is he now?"
"He went a little way, stopping now and then to swaller some one that warn't quick 'nough to git out of his path; he went over the hill this side of Briggsville, where you know we couldn't see him. By that time a whole lot of the folks had guns, and started after him. Being on my way home, I jined 'em. When we got to the top of the hill, old Tippo Sahib couldn't be seen anywhere."
"Aren't you afeard to go home?"
"No, of course not," replied Jimmy, rapidly regaining courage; "I know how to fix him if he comes after me."
"How's that?"
"All I've got to do is to stop short and look him right in the eye. A chap mustn't tremble, but look hard and stern."
"Why didn't you do that, Jim, when he first broke out of his cage?"
"I hadn't time! I'll do it if I meet him agin. Remember, Tom, if you run against him, you must fix your eyes on him and not wink. _That'll_ fetch him every time."
"But s'posin' it doesn't?"
"If you should have to wink, and he comes for you, why all you've got to do is to haul off with your foot and kick him awful hard under the jaw; that'll fix him! But you mustn't be barefooted, or you'll hurt your toes. And you must kick hard 'nough too," added the budding naturalist, "to knock his jaw off. Then of course he can't bite."
The scheme was a brilliant one, perhaps; but young as was Tom Gordon, he felt that the difficulty lay in its application.
"Gracious! Jim! the tiger is stirring up things, isn't he? We've got a gun in the house, and if he visits us I think I'll try that."
"Do you know where to hit him?" asked Jim, who, having fully recovered his wind, seemed at the same time to have regained a vast amount of curious knowledge of natural history.
"I s'pose in the head is as good as any place."
"Don't you think of such a thing! He don't mind being hit in the head more than you do getting hit by a spit-ball. You must aim for his tail!"
"How can that hurt him?" asked the amazed Tom.
"Why, I seed the balls that hit his head glance off and scoot up in the air, like skipping stones over the water. A tiger uses his tail to balance himself with. Shoot off his tail, and he loses his balance. Every time he tries to walk, he tips over. Don't forget, Tom, if you shoot, to aim at his tail, just where it is stuck onto his body. If you miss, look him in the eye; and if that doesn't stop him, let drive with your foot under the jaw, and don't forget to have your shoes on. Well, I must go home to tell the folks to git ready," added Jim, loping off like an Indian starting on a long journey.
Tom had caught the contagion of excitement, and the moment his friend left he made a dash for the door of his home, bursting in upon his mother and aunt with the astounding news just received from his playmate.
Strange women would they have been not to have been wrought up by the alarming tidings. Brushing aside