The cry of the frightened boys and girls had suddenly aroused its rage, and lashing the ground with its long tail, the infuriated brute was ready to spring upon its prey.
It was a situation where a moment’s time means a life. Unarmed as he was, Little Hickory could not stand idle while others were in such deadly peril.
Regardless of what the result might bring him, he picked up a small rock at his feet, and hurled it with all the force he could muster straight toward the springing tiger!
CHAPTER XVI.
A TUSSLE WITH A TIGER.
So well did Rob throw the stone that it struck the crouching tiger upon the back, when the brute uttered a fierce growl, which brought another scream from the frightened children that were clinging to each other a few feet away.
Fearing that his first shot had not drawn the attention from its intended victim, Little Hickory poised a second stone, sending it with such precision that it fell between the animal’s ears with a resounding thwack.
Another shriek from the surprised tiger rang out, louder and fiercer than the first, when the creature wheeled furiously about to see who this assailant from its rear might be.
Rob had picked up another stone, and as the maddened beast faced him, he threw it with all the power he could command.
But this time he missed his target, though the tiger gave vent to its rage in another howl of anger, and whipped the ground with its long tail.
Rob now realized that his situation was a desperate one. The aroused brute was preparing to attack him, and in a hand-to-hand battle with the terrific animal he must be torn limb from limb.