He stood a minute, looking out upon the beautiful scene; for, young as he was, he could not fail to be impressed by the striking loveliness of everything out-doors.
"I wonder whether they've catched Tippo Sahib"-- The lad caught his breath, for just then he saw something moving in the shadow of the woodshed.

A second look showed it to be some sort of quadruped, and the third--could he believe his eyes ?--revealed the tiger himself! Yes, it was the terrible brute and no mistake.

The boy rubbed his eyes and looked again.

Some unaccountable attraction seemed to have brought Tippo Sahib back to the dwelling where he had met with so interesting an experience that afternoon.
But all this being so, Tom Gordon might well ask himself what good the presence of the animal promised to be to him.

Hitherto, he and his friends had counted themselves lucky in being able to keep out of his way when he showed a desire to explore the interior of the house.