“Why, it was dooming him to certain destruction,” said Fritz.

“In the meantime the cage had been conveyed to a valley surrounded with mountains, the caves of which were known to shelter entire colonies of tigers.  Here also came Sir Marmaduke.  The cage was firmly embedded in the soil, the exterior was thickly studded over with sharp spikes screwed into the bars; inside were placed a table and a sofa, with crimson velvet cushions.”

“A lady’s boudoir in the wilderness,” said Jack.

“In one corner there was a case containing a dozen bottles of pale ale, and as many of champagne; in another was a second case containing curry pies and a variety of preserved meats; in a third case were five and twenty loaded rifles, together with a complete magazine in miniature of powder and shot.  On the table were sundry cases of havannahs, a box of allumettes, the last number of the Edinburgh Review, and a copy of the Times.”

“What is the Times?” inquired Jack.

“It is a furlong of paper, folded up and covered with news, advertisements, and letters from the oldest inhabitant of everywhere.  Leaving, then, Sir Marmaduke seated in the centre of his cage, we towards night returned to the cutter, first scattering two or three quarters of fresh beef in the vicinity of the cage.”

“That should have assembled all the tigers in Coromandel,” said Fritz.

“Anyhow, it brought enough.  Towards midnight Sir Marmaduke could count thirty noble brutes capering in the moonlight and feasting upon the beef that had been provided for them.”

“What did the Englishman do then?”

“He took aim at the most magnificent specimen of the herd and fired.  No sooner had he done this than the whole pack came scampering towards the cage, thinking, doubtless, they had nothing to do but scrunch the bones of the solitary hunter.  This was the signal for a regular slaughter.  Sir Marmaduke discharged his rifles point blank in the noses of the animals that environed him on all sides; those who were not wounded by the balls were severely injured by the spikes of the cage in their furious efforts to seize their enemy.  The howling, yelling, and fury was quite a new sensation for Sir Marmaduke; he rather enjoyed the thing whilst the excitement lasted.  However, all things must have an end; when the sun appeared on the horizon the wounded retired, leaving the dead masters of the situation.”

“I suppose, in the meantime,” remarked Fritz, “that the amiable Hindoo was considering whether or not, under the circumstances, she should wear mourning for her defunct cavalier.”

“Be that as it may, the defunct made his appearance, safe and sound, that same day, whilst the cutter stood out to sea with every vestige of the cage except the dead tigers.  Shortly after, the widow was astonished to see an army of coolies marching in procession towards her door, all, like the slaves of Aladdin, heavily laden; and she was not awakened from her surprise till the master of the ceremonies had placed the following letter in her hands: