a distance, showed him that Burnett and his
party had met with game; but as he found no real pleasure in
tiger-shooting, he was anxious to get back to the bungalow, where they
intended to stop till the next evening before resuming their journey.
He wished, indeed, to astonish his friend, by exhibiting his prize, when
Burnett was boasting, as he probably would, of the number of tigers he
had killed. Leaving word with the elephant drivers that he had returned
on foot, and bidding them say nothing about his captive, he hastened
homeward, followed by his two astonished attendants.

"He is indeed a wonderful young man," observed the shikaree wallah.
"How courageously he walked up to the tiger; it makes my knees even now
tremble to think of it. Wallah, he is a brave youth."

As Reginald walked on, with his hand on the tigress's head, he
considered what name he should give the animal. "She has evidently
become attached to me, and will follow me about like a dog," he said to
himself. "Very likely she may be of use, too, for I suspect that no
robbers, nor even Thugs, would dare attack a man with a tigress as his
protector. What shall I call her? Violet? Violet? No, certainly not.
There is nothing in common, except I may say affection for me.
Faithful? Yes, Faithful. That, I am sure, will prove the chief
characteristic of the creature. Faithful shall be her name!"

By the time he had arrived at this decision he reached Major Sandford's
bungalow. The sitting-room was of large extent, ornamented with the
skins of antelopes, bison, and stag horns of various kinds, and with
native swords, bows, arrows, spears, and battle-axes; while the floor
was covered with the hides of bears, leopards, tigers, and deer; and a
number of tables, sofas, and chairs of all shapes were scattered about
on it. Placing three of the chairs in a row, Reginald covered them with
skins, so as to form a screen; and calling to Faithful, he bade her lie
down behind them. He threw himself on a sofa in front to await the
arrival of his friends. Before long he caught sight of Burnett's
elephant approaching.

"How comes it, you lazy fellow, that you return home without a single
skin to show?" asked Captain Burnett, as he entered.

"Pardon me, but I have not returned without a skin," said Reginald.
"Here, Faithful, show yourself."

As he spoke the tigress raised her head above the screen with a menacing
expression in her countenance which made Bur