t his shoulder to it
at once.

"Here's our refuge, Jack," he cried joyously.

"Half a minute, father, before you clap that door to," said Jack. "I'm
frightfully hungry."

"So am I, ready to drop," returned his father. "What of that?"

"I'm going to fetch that buck up, or a good piece of it," remarked
Jack. "It's a fresh kill, and quite sweet."

"I'll come with you," said Mr. Haydon. "Food is priceless at present,
for we may well need all our strength."

"No, no," said Jack, "I don't want to brag, father, but I can leg it a
lot quicker than you if the old lady comes home suddenly."

"Very likely," said his father. "I don't doubt that for an instant,
Jack, but I'll come all the same." They lighted a couple of fresh
torches and went quickly down the steps and across the room below.
They found the tiger cubs, drawn by the scent of blood, playing with
the new kill, trying to fix their baby fangs into it, and leaping to
and fro like a couple of kittens.

"Clear off," said Jack, thrusting one of them aside with his foot, "we
want this."

The buck was only a young one, not more than forty or fifty pounds'
weight, and Jack swung it up from the ground by its horns. As he drew
it away from them, both cubs gave a loud cry of complaint. Their cry
was answered upon the instant by a frightful roar, and turning their
heads, the two men saw a long, low, huge form gliding in at the
opening with lightning speed.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THE SECRET CHAMBER.

"Shout, shout!" cried Mr. Haydon, and the two yelled at the top of
their voices and waved their torches as they ran for the steps. But
neither the noise nor the fire saved them. They owed their safety to
the cubs. These ran at once to their mother, and the fierce creature
stayed a moment to lick and fondle them and assure herself of their
safety.

Jack and his father used the respite to full advantage. They tore up
the steps and hurled themselves into the room above. Mr. Haydon and
the woman pushed the broken door into place before the opening and
held it, fearing a rush from the great savage beast But the tigress
made no charge. They heard her prowling about the foot of the steps
below, and growling horribly, but she made no attempt to pursue them
farther, and presently her fierce notes of anger died away.

"She has gone back to the cubs," said Mr. Haydon with a deep breath of
relief. "That was a close shave, Jack. If she'd come straight at us
instead of staying be