"Yes, sir. There was two of 'em, sir. Two little girls—six an' seven, I should saiy, sir. One, runnink on a'ead, tripped an' fell an' let out a cry. She was the youngest, an' 'er mother, quite forgettink the other, runs after 'er to pick 'er up an' kiss the spot.
"Jenkison 'ad 'er up first, though, an'—'e's a married man, is Jenkison, with little uns of 'is own—'e was a soothink of 'er an' never lookink be'ind. You see, sir, it must 'a' been that it was then that the other got under the r'il an' begun climbink."
"Began climbing!" Andrews exclaimed. "Do you mean to say a child of seven—a girl—dared to climb up—"
"She did, sir. An' not a soul seeink her, either. It was the purrink of the tigress that did it, sir. That's what I think, sir. The kiddie 'ad a little pussy at 'ome, I dare say, sir, that purred when it was pleased, an' the tigress's purrink took all fear out of the little un. She wanted to pat Miss Bengal, an'—"
"Good God!" cried his listener. "She wasn't killed?"
"No fault of 'ers she wasn't, poor child!" Phipps answered. "I 'eard 'er scream. Jenkison, 'e 'eard 'er, too. An' there was no mistakink what it meant.
"We ran, an' so did the rest of the guards; but none of us 'ad a chance of gettink to 'er in time. The beast 'ad 'er by 'er little shoulder, and was draggink 'er between the bars even before the gentleman got there. An' 'e was the first that saw."
"He saved her!" breathed Andrews tremulously. "Lord Kneedrock saved her!"
The guard started in surprise. "Was that 'im?" he asked.
"Didn't you know? I thought—"