"What shall we do?"
"I'll fetch him this time," was the confident response of Tom, "if I can
only get a fair aim."
"You had better let me have the gun," said his mother, who was in a
momentary panic.
"Let me try it once more."
"But there is no chance here; it will not do to open the shutter: he will
spring right in among us."
"Up-stairs is the best place," said Tom, hurrying up the steps again.
Meanwhile, Jim Travers, who had been so terrified, displayed more coolness
than any one in the house. Probably he felt so much confidence in his new
scheme, that he was warranted in this self-possession.
Like the rest, he was startled by the crash against the shutter. He rose
to his feet, stared at the window, and, seeing that the beast had not
broken through, stooped and resumed fanning the blaze with more vigor than
ever. At this juncture Tom called from above,--
"Where is he? I can't see him."
He had peered from the front and rear windows without catching sight of
the tiger. The reason was evident: the animal was so near the house that
he could not be observed without raising the sash and thrusting out the
head.
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