"You may just as well come down and take your thrashing now," said Tarbox, "for you're sure to get it."
"If you're in a hurry to get home to supper, perhaps we'll wait for you here," suggested Charlie, politely.
"Shut up, you saucebox! You won't have much appetite for supper!" retorted Tarbox.
He sat down where he could have a full view of both trees, when presently he heard Charlie call out in a terrified tone, "Rob, look there! The tiger's got loose! See him coming this way! Can he climb trees?"
Tarbox stopped to hear no more. He sprang to his feet, and without waiting to bid the boys good-by he took to his heels and fled from the wood, feeling that his life was in peril.
CHAPTER XI.
DISMAY AT THE HOME OF TARBOX.
Robert quickly understood that Tarbox was the victim of a practical joke, and did his best to help it along. He had amused himself during his connection with the circus in imitating the cries of wild beasts, and now from his perch in the tree reproduced the howl of a wolf so naturally that Tarbox, hearing it, and knowing no better, thought it proceeded from the throat of the tiger. Of course he increased his speed, expecting every moment that the dangerous animal would spring upon him and tear him to pieces.
"If I only had my gun with me," he reflected in his dismay, "I might be able to defend myself."