"Where'll we run?" was the sensible question of Tom. "I'd load up again, but the powder and bullets are down-stairs, and before I could do it he'd be on us, if he means to jump into this window."
The halt of the tiger was only momentary. He trotted round to the rear of the house, vanishing from sight for the moment.
A brilliant idea struck Jim Travers.
"I can do better than that, Tom," he called out, clattering down-stairs. "Come with me, and I'll show you."
"Are you going to try to look him in the eye?" asked Tom, following after him, and scarcely less excited than he. "It won't work."
But the other lad paid no attention to the inquiry, so flurried was he over his new scheme for frightening off the dreaded beast.
The closing of the shutters on the lower floor, as we have explained, cast it in deep shadow. The mother had been so thorough in her work, that all the three rooms were thus obscured. Aunt Cynthia had lit a lamp, which sat on the table, and served to light up the interior.
"What do you mean to do?" she asked of the boys, as they rushed into her presence.
"I'm going to load the gun," replied Tom. "I don't know what Jim is driving at."
The women were naturally alarmed at the persistency of the wild animal in his demonstration against the dwelling. It did look as if he was bent on revenging himself for the hurt that had been inflicted. Many of the wild beasts of India, like the frightful cobra, often show great tenacity in attacking those from whom they have received injury.