“You ought to have the skin of this tiger,” said Jack to Mrs. Ford. “It would make a fine rug.”
“Yes, mamma, let us have the skin by all means,” pleaded Laura. “We can have it fixed up with the head on, and it will look beautiful!”
“I’ll have to see the circus people about it,” came from Mr. Ford. “Tell me how he happened to come here.” And then all told their stories, to which the gentleman listened closely.
“I’m so glad these young men were here,” said Mrs. Ford. “Had we been alone, I do not know what might have happened.”
The tiger was dragged to a carriage shed by the gardener and the boys, and then the cook was sent off to get dinner ready. It was found that outside of eating up some steaks, drinking a pan of milk, and breaking a few dishes, the tiger had done no damage. Every bullet aimed at him had taken effect, and there were also two old wounds on him, in the leg and side.
“He must have gotten these old wounds when he leaped into the lake,” said Mrs. Ford. “But it was a mistake to report him drowned.”
“I don’t know as I ever want to meet another tiger at large,” said Andy. “They are too dangerous!”
“Yes, Snow,” answered Mr. Ford. “You can all be thankful that he did not get at you. If he had, he might have made mince-meat of one or another in no time.”
CHAPTER XVI
OFF ON A LONG MARCH
When the boys returned to Putnam Hall and told about their adventure with the tiger, they were proclaimed genuine heroes.