CHAPTER V.
The men looked at Tom Gordon as if doubting his words.
"Are you in earnest ?" asked one of them.
"Look for yourselves." The horseman was out of the saddle in a twinkling, and walked quickly to the woodshed, whose cracks were so numerous that it was easy to see every part of the interior.

Placing his eyes at one of these openings, he peered through.
"By George, boys!" he exclaimed, turning about, "the youngster's right; Tippo is in there." The others hastily dismounted, tied their horses, and joined him.

All took a look before they were satisfied no mistake had been made.
The tiger was stretched out in one corner, and had been asleep, when he was awakened by the noise.

He raised his head, opened his eyes and growled, but showed no special anger at being disturbed.
While the men were debating as to the best means of securing him, Jack Durrick, who had done most of the talking, explained to the ladies and Tom what must have puzzled them concerning the action of the beast.
Durrick, it should be stated, figured on the stupendous posters as "Professor De La Cordova, Successor of the Renowned Van Amberg, and Fully his Equal in his Amazing Power and Control over the Wild Beasts of the Forest and Jungle." In this case, it must be added, the professor possessed fair claim to this distinction.

He displayed great skill in the management of wild animals.