As soon as they could do so the three cadets ran into the side door of the mansion. They found the girls on an upper landing, gazing down anxiously.
“Is the tiger coming?” called down Laura.
“Yes, he’s in the kitchen,” answered Jack.
“The kitchen!” gasped Mrs. Ford, who had come out of the library.
“Oh, save me, somebody!” came from the rear of the mansion, and the butler appeared, with his hair almost on end. “A wild beast, mum—roaming the pantry, mum,” he spluttered.
“Better go upstairs, all of you,” said Jack, as he heard the tiger leap upon a table.
“Dat’s where I’m a-goin’,” said the cook, and ran to the top of the house, followed by the butler, where both locked themselves in their rooms.
The girls and Mrs. Ford were soon on the second floor of the mansion, and the three cadets followed.
“Shut all of the doors tight, Mrs. Ford,” said Jack. “For all we know, he may take it into his head to come upstairs.”
Following Jack’s directions, the doors were closed, and the family gathered in a large room in the front of the mansion.