Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/11

THE MAN WHO STOLE A TIGER CUB A certain gentleman who was travelling in India was very anxious to take home with him a live tiger cub. Now baby tigers are not to be bought on every street corner as he discovered, but at last he found a native hunter who was willing to get him a live specimen.

For some time, a big tiger had infested the jungle not far from the village and the native, in the course of his wanderings found a small cave which proved to be the tiger's den. He kept watch for several days and discovered that the tigress had little cubs. All tigers are suspicious and watchful especially when they have young ones and seldom leave them alone for any length of time.

The hunter stationed himself in a tree and from there observed the tigress's movements. He found that towards sundown each evening she went off in search of prey and left the cubs at the cave's mouth to sun themselves. They were still quite small, being hardly larger than good sized cats.

The hunter made all his preparations and one day arming himself only with a stick, and taking a native boy as a helper he set out in earnest upon his perilous task.

The gentleman and some friends whiled away the time at the club until the hunter should return. Suddenly there was a cry outside and a babel of voices, and the native boy rushed among them screaming and raving. When they had calmed him down and assured him that he was safe he told his tale and it was simple enough. They had watched the tigress go away and then the hunter had crept to the bank near the cave's mouth and leaning in over seized a cub by the neck. He was about to bundle it into the sack when the tigress, who must have suspected something was wrong, appeared behind him! Before the boy could utter a cry of alarm the tigress made one silent spring and buried her claw in the thief's back. Then she stepped aside an instant and stood with uplifted paw ready for another move, but the man was done for. The boy turned and fled and did not even stop to breathe until he was safe among human beings again.

The only safe way to get a tiger cub in a case like that would be to to shoot the mother, otherwise unless the party is large and well armed, they are likely to meet the fate of this native.

Sometimes when a tiger has been robbed of a cub it will follow the scent to the village and descend upon it at night carrying death and destruction in its path. Tiger cubs are pretty and playful when they are small but they soon get teeth and claws and use them roughly. In zoological gardens it is a common thing for keepers to let the cubs out of the cage.