"He tried to jump through our window," said Aunt Cynthia.
"Before or after you fired at him?"
"Afterward."
"I suppose it was caused by the hullabaloo of the people, frightened out of their wits. It is the same as when a hue and cry is raised about a dog. If he isn't mad, he will soon become so. But, madam, we are very anxious to secure the animal before he is killed or seriously injured. We will pay a good reward for his recapture."
"How much?" asked Tom, to the surprise of his relatives.
"One hundred dollars to any one who will secure him without injury, or fixes it so we can recapture him. May I ask where the tiger seemed to be going when you last saw him?"
"The last we seen of him," replied Tom, "he was cutting 'cross the field toward the woods over yonder."
Thanking the boy and the ladies for their information, the horsemen rode off, soon disappearing up the highway.
The fact that these men, experienced in their knowledge of wild animals, were searching for the escaped tiger, naturally lifted much of the fear of the beast from the hearts of the Gordon family. They believed the keepers would recapture him before he could do much harm in the community. They were convinced, too, that they were not the only ones looking for him.
The shutters of all the windows were never more carefully barred than before the three inmates retired to their beds.