"If you're in a hurry to get home to supper, perhaps we'll wait for you here," suggested Charlie, politely. "Shut up, you saucebox! You won't have much appetite for supper!" retorted Tarbox. He sat down where he could have a full view of both trees, when presently he heard Charlie call out in a terrified tone, "Rob, look there! The tiger's got loose! See him coming this way! Can he climb trees?" Tarbox stopped to hear no more. He sprang to his feet, and without waiting to bid the boys good-by he took to his heels and fled from the wood, feeling that his life was in peril. CHAPTER XI. DISMAY AT THE HOME OF TARBOX. Robert quickly understood that Tarbox was the victim of a practical joke, and did his best to help it along. He had amused himself during his connection with the circus in imitating the cries of wild beasts, and now from his perch in the tree reproduced the howl of a wolf so naturally that Tarbox, hearing it, and knowing no better, thought it proceeded from the throat of the tiger. Of course he increased his speed, expecting every moment that the dangerous animal would spring upon him and tear him to pieces. "If I only had my gun with me," he reflected in his dismay, "I might be able to defend myself." He lost his hat somewhere on the road, and breathless and hatless entered his own back door, shutting and bolting it after him, and with disordered look entered the sitting-room where his wife was seated, in a comfortable chat with Mrs. Dunlap, a neighbor. Tarbox sank into a rocking-chair, and, gasping, stared at the two ladies. "Good gracious, Nathan!" exclaimed his wife, in a flutter; "what on earth has happened?" "Was anything chasin' ye?" asked Mrs. Dunlap, unconsciously hitting the mark. "Yes," answered Tarbox, in a hollow voice. "Was it the Norwegian giant?" inquired Mrs. Tarbox, apprehensively. "Worse!" answered Tarbox, sententiously. "Worse! Do tell. Good gracious, Nathan, I shall go into a fit if you don't tell me right off what it was." "It was a tiger!" answered her husband, impressively. "A tiger!" exclaimed both ladies, startled and affrighted. "Yes, I've had a narrow escape of my life." "But where did he come from?" asked Mrs. Dunlap. "Come from? Where should he come from except from the circus? He broke loose and now he's prowling round, seeking whom he may devour. "O heavens," exclaimed Mrs. Dunlap, terror-stricken, "and my innocent children are out picking berries in the pasture." "Tigers are fond of children," said Tarbox, whose hard nature found pleasure in the dismay of the unhappy mother. "I must go right home and send for the children," said the mother, in an agony of apprehension. "You may never live to get home," said Tarbox. "Oh what shall I do?" said Mrs. Dunlap, wringing her hands. "Won't you go home with me, Mr. Tarbox? I can't stay here with my poor children in peril." "No, I thank you. My life is worth something."