Could he have thought of any way by which to drive the tiger inside, he would have done so; but there was none.

He could only wait and watch, and hope for a favorable issue of the undertaking.
It struck him as strange that the beast should stand so long with only his tail in the outer air.

The lad fancied it had disappeared entirely; but at the moment he was about to slip forward, he detected the tuft agitating the chips and dirt about the entrance.

He therefore held back and still watched and waited.
There! the brute must have taken another step farther, for no part of his appendage was visible.

He was wholly within the shed.
It was now or never.
Tom left the door open a few inches, so that if he should find it necessary to retreat, he would meet with no trouble in re-entering his home.