I didn't know then, but I found out afterward that when a tiger makes a leap out of a tree he rolls over when he hits ground and turns a sort of summersault, so as to break the shock. There's a certain way to do it, that's all I know. But I knew when he said it, that the Royal Bengal Tigers from Ohio were like the others away out in India, in more ways than I ever thought about. I said, "Bert, you can't do it--tigers are--" "Shut up," he said, "and listen--" "Even if you did," I said--"No, I _won't_ shut up--_you_ listen. Even if you did, how could you get out? Have some sense. I've followed you all the time, but now you've got to listen. I like you better than any fellow--even Westy--and--_please_ wait a minute--even Skinny. It's too late--Bert." He said, "Blakeley, we have two chances--just two. You know the third law. I don't tell you what you've got to do, Blakeley. That's your business--but listen." He put his hand on my shoulder and his voice was all husky. He said, "Blakeley, if I don't make it, you'll have my body to ease the shock for you. People--people will be here to-morrow-- you'll get out. It's getting _in_ we have to think about. If I don't make it, try to land on your feet--a little forward--like this--see? And duck your head and do a summersault forward--see? If you don't want to, it's none of my business. Only I'm telling you how. Here," he said, and he threw a lot of things out of his pockets; "you give them to my patrol." "Keep them," I said, "I'll get them when I come down, if that's necessary. It's--it's you and I and Skinny, Bert--sink or swim--live or die--it's the three of us. I'm ready." CHAPTER XXXI TELLS ABOUT THE OLD PASSAGEWAY Honest, as sure as I'm sitting here, I would have gone down first-- after the way that fellow spoke to me. It just sent thrills through me. And only a couple of days before, I didn't like him and I thought he didn't trust Skinny. I grabbed hold of him and I said, "Bert, I--just a second--_please_--I have to tell you--if I don't see you again--I mean so I can speak to you--I have to tell you, you're a hero--" But he jerked my hand off his sleeve. He didn't say anything, but just jerked my hand off his sleeve. And I stood there holding the paddle, and I could hear the water rushing in the valley, and I was breathing hard and all trembling. I called, "Bert! Are you all right, Bert?" But he didn't answer. Then I went to the edge and I was all shaking from head to foot. But I was ready. It was all dark down there and I couldn't see. Anyway, I was ready. "Bert!" I called, and I just waited. I could hear the water rushing through the valley and sometimes sounds like trees breaking. And I heard a tree-toad moaning--it seemed funny to hear that. "Bert!" I called. I felt cold, and my wrists were all tingling. "Bert!"