Page:Folk Tales from Tibet (1906).djvu/99

Rh "Here I am, Brother," said the Tiger. "What do you want?"

"Oh! Brother Tiger," said the Boy, "the King has said that if I do not immediately provide him with four full-grown Tigers to guard the four gates of his palace he will kill our mother and make me a slave."

On hearing this the Tiger laughed aloud.

"Is that all?" said he. "That is easily arranged. I can get you a hundred Tigers."

So saying, he opened his mouth, and gave forth a series of fearful roars; and in a few minutes the whole jungle seemed to be full of Tigers, hastening up from all directions. When they were all ready, the first Tiger told his brother to mount upon his back, and so, with the Boy leading the way, and the other Tigers following in procession, they all went off in a body to the King's palace.

As they approached the palace great consternation arose; servants ran hither and thither, and the guards were called to arms. And when the King was told what was happening he was greatly alarmed himself, but he seated himself on his throne, and gave orders for the Boy and the Tigers to be admitted. The Boy rode in on the Tiger's back to the royal presence, followed by all the other Tigers; and halting a few steps from the throne he said:

"Here, oh King! are a number of the best Tigers I could find in the forest. You can take your pick of four you like."

The King was very much astonished at this, and having