Before Mrs. Gordon or Aunt Cynthia could reply, Tom asked,—­

“Did you say you would give a hundred dollars to any one that gets that tiger without hurting him?”

“We’ll be glad to do that, sonny, or if he will show us where he is so we can capture him.”

“Will you give a hundred dollars to have him in the woodshed there?”

“Indeed we will.”

“Very well; he’s there!”

Chapter V.

The men looked at Tom Gordon as if doubting his words.

“Are you in earnest?” asked one of them.

“Look for yourselves.”

The horseman was out of the saddle in a twinkling, and walked quickly to the woodshed, whose cracks were so numerous that it was easy to see every part of the interior.  Placing his eyes at one of these openings, he peered through.

“By George, boys!” he exclaimed, turning about, “the youngster’s right; Tippo is in there.”

The others hastily dismounted, tied their horses, and joined him.  All took a look before they were satisfied no mistake had been made.

The tiger was stretched out in one corner, and had been asleep, when he was awakened by the noise.  He raised his head, opened his eyes and growled, but showed no special anger at being disturbed.

While the men were debating as to the best means of securing him, Jack Durrick, who had done most of the talking, explained to the ladies and Tom what must have puzzled them concerning the action of the beast.

Durrick, it should be stated, figured on the stupendous posters as “Professor De La Cordova, Successor of the Renowned Van Amberg, and Fully his Equal in his Amazing Power and Control over the Wild Beasts of the Forest and Jungle.”  In this case, it must be added, the professor possessed fair claim to this distinction.  He displayed great skill in the management of wild animals.  No one could handle Tippo Sahib as did he.  Had he been near the cage when Sam Harper angered him, he never would have permitted the beast to escape.

He said Tippo was frightened and nervous through his suddenly acquired freedom.  He suffered pain from the jab in his eye, and was made more restless and fidgety by the excitement and his strange surroundings.  The slight wound received by him renewed his anger; but, when he withdrew from the immediate vicinity, he undoubtedly made a raid on some farmer’s live-stock, and had devoured a calf, pig, or sheep.  He had eaten his fill, and thereupon became so docile as to be comparatively harmless, provided he was treated with consideration.

His return to the scene of his most stirring experience was one of those whims which his species sometimes show.  Tired from his flight and filled to satiety, he had lain down to rest in the woodshed, so satisfied with his quarters that he offered no objection when Tom Gordon slipped up and fastened the door.  So powerful and active an animal, had he chosen, could have broken out of the place in a twinkling; but he was content to stay where he was until fully rested.