He lost his hat somewhere on the road, and breathless and hatless entered his own back door, shutting and bolting it after him, and with disordered look entered the sitting-room where his wife was seated, in a comfortable chat with Mrs. Dunlap, a neighbor.
Tarbox sank into a rocking-chair, and, gasping, stared at the two ladies.
"Good gracious, Nathan!" exclaimed his wife, in a flutter; "what on earth has happened?"
"Was anything chasin' ye?" asked Mrs. Dunlap, unconsciously hitting the mark.
"Yes," answered Tarbox, in a hollow voice.
"Was it the Norwegian giant?" inquired Mrs. Tarbox, apprehensively.
"Worse!" answered Tarbox, sententiously.
"Worse! Do tell. Good gracious, Nathan, I shall go into a fit if you don't tell me right off what it was."
"It was a tiger!" answered her husband, impressively.
"A tiger!" exclaimed both ladies, startled and affrighted.