“The tiger!” echoed Pepper, and all of the girls set up a scream.
“Yes, there he is—crouching by the side of yonder tree.”
“I see him!”
“So do I,” put in Andy. “Quick, girls, get into the house before he comes this way!”
“Come in! Come in!” roared the colored cook. “He’ll eat you all up!”
As fast as they could the girls ran for the mansion, entering by a back door. The cadets followed. Looking back they saw the tiger moving slowly from the vicinity of the tree to a clump of bushes on the lawn.
“He is certainly coming this way,” called out Jack.
“He is moving for the house, too!” put in Pepper. “There he goes around to the kitchen door!”
Pepper spoke the truth. The tiger had reached the back door. Now he bounded up the small stoop, and a second later entered the kitchen of the mansion.