Page:Jungle Joe, pride of the circus; the story of a trick elephant (IA junglejoeprideof00hawk).pdf/137

 he stopped each step to look back over his shoulder at the boy, as though he were fascinated by him.

Finally he disappeared altogether and Ali gave a great sigh of relief. But the strain had been terrific, so the homeless, sorrowing lad buried his face in his hands and sobbed softly to himself.

He did not dare cry aloud, for fear the tiger would hear him and return.

Notwithstanding the fact that the great man-eating tiger probably still prowled in the thicket near by, yet little Ali went peacefully to sleep after his encounter, feeling sure that the great beast would not hurt him.

The tiger understood what he had said. It was as the old priest had said. They were brothers.

But at about daybreak he was awakened