Mrs. Leigh hurried in, terrified at the thought of what might have befallen her children. The house was filled with men. Policemen were in full force to keep order. The keepers from the menagerie had a net suspended over the door of the shed, to catch the tiger when it should rush out. Half a dozen men stood with guns ready pointed, in case he should attack them.
"But don't fire, unless in case of absolute necessity," pleaded the keeper. "Consider the cost, gentlemen. That beast is worth, as he stands, two thousand dollars."
"What's your two thousand dollars to us?" growled one of the men, cocking his gun. "Consider our lives."
Nobody as yet had seen the tiger but Jack, who stood in an upper window, the observed of all observers.
The keepers went on with their preparations. It was their plan to shoot into the shed, over the tiger's head, and when he charged on them, capture him in the net.
"Let every man take care of himself," said the keeper. "Fire if we do not secure him. Are you ready, men?"
The men, with pale faces, lowered the net. "All right!"
"Look out, then. One, two, three!"
"Bang!" went the pistol over the beast's head. There was a moment's pause, and then a fierce dash and a shriek from the people, caught up and echoed by the crowd outside. The men tugged at their net and caught--
"Brown's big yellow dog!" shouted the policemen.