"Ha! Now you can't follow me!" she said to the elephant. "You can't climb up this tree!"
"No, but I can stay here until you come down," said Tum Tum, "and that's what I'll do."
"Bah!" snarled the tiger. "Go away and let me alone!"
But Tum Tum would not. He stayed under the tree where the tiger was, for he knew that soon the circus men would come to hunt for Sharp Tooth, to put her back in her cage.
And, surely enough, that is just what happened. The head keeper could easily see which way the tiger and elephant had gone, for, though Sharp Tooth did not make much of a track, Tum Tum did. An elephant cannot crash and push his way through the bushes and trees without making a broad path. And this path the circus men followed. Soon they came to the tree in which Sharp Tooth was crouching.
"Here she is!" cried one. "Bring up the cage!"
The tiger's empty cage was wheeled under the tree, and the door was open. Inside was put a nice piece of meat, such as the tiger loved, and she was very hungry now.
"You had better go down in your cage and behave yourself," said Tum Tum.
"No, I will not!" snarled the tiger. But when the circus men snapped their whips, and fired off guns, and brought blazing torches, Sharp Tooth was afraid. Besides, she was very hungry, and as the lion had not run away with her, she was afraid she could never get to the jungle alone.