If I hadn't wounded it, it would have had me by the throat sure. But
my shot kind of made it fall back, and it caught me by the trouser leg."
"Are you sure you are not hurt, lad?" asked the captain.
"Not hurt in the least," answered Dick, and all were thankful that
this was so.
The animal was dragged close to the cabin. It measured about five
feet in length, regardless of the tail, and was of a dull yellowish
color. Its teeth were long and sharp, and its face had a fierce,
blood-thirsty look about it that made all the girls shiver.
"I must confess that I am surprised to find such a beast on these
islands," said Captain Blossom. "Usually they are to be found only
on the mainland or on large islands."
"What I am wondering is, are there any more around?" came from Sam.
"If there are, we'll have to be careful how we move around," put in
old Jerry. "I don't want any of 'em to leap out at me from behind a
rock."
"We'll have to be on the watch," said Tom. "I'm sure I don't want to
furnish any tropical tiger cat with a square meal."
"Oh, Tom, how awful to even mention it!" cried Nellie.
"I think I know a way to keep 'em away from the house at night," said
old Jerry.
"How?" questioned several.
"Keep a camp-fire burning close to the door. All wild animals hate
a fire."
"Jerry is right," said Captain Blossom. "We'll do it after this."
"What shall we do with the beast?" asked Dick.
Pages:
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172