Free 13 Tiger Adventure by Willard Price Page A

into the pit - or would he?
    Their rhino was not as intelligent as a lion and constantly made sounds that told everyone exactly where he was. The rhino is said to make no sound, but that was not true of this Indian giant. He grunted, roared, bellowed, snorted and whistled. It is said that both the tiger and the elephant are afraid of the rhino. He had poor eyesight, but this rhino could dimly see the boys and each time he charged they m would step out of the way at the last moment and let him run past them. That was dangerous too, for a rhino, though half blind, can turn on a penny and then you are not out of his way, but in it. Every time the animal rushed he almost fell into the pit, but not quite.
    He lowered his head as if he were going to spear the boys with his horn. But, unlike the African rhino, he did not use his horn which after all is not really horn but a twist of hair hardened to a point. To attack, he depended upon his mighty jaws.
    What looked like iron plates covered his sides. In ancient history Indian rhinos had been used as tanks are now used in warfare. Protected on both sides by armour, it was almost impossible for an arrow to penetrate a rhino’s body.
    ‘He’s going to go into the pit this time.’ Hal said. There was a crashing of branches and bushes and the rhino fell into the pit.
    Then the animal went crazy, thrashing about, whistling, tearing at one side of the pit until he pulled down a great deal of dirt and nearly escaped before the boys could get a noose around him. The other end of the rope was attached to the truck.
    Then the truck was started, the rhino was drawn up the slanting side of the pit and down the road behind the truck, still grunting and whistling, to his cage.
    Once inside it he changed completely. He was quiet and seemed thoughtful. Perhaps things were not going to be so bad after all. He was fed immediately and that made him take a much happier view of life. If a rhino is well treated he becomes tame in a few days.
    Turning from the cage, the boys saw their lion coming down the road. She calmly went into her cage and was welcomed with many squeaks by her little cub.
    Those three crooks must have taken her out,’ Hal said. Then she escaped from them and came back. Let’s go right down and have a talk with those fellows.’
    Instead of knocking, they opened the barn door and walked in.
    They were amazed at what they saw. Three boys lay on their cots, twisting, squirming, whining, bleeding, and every one with high fever.
    Hal had intended to scold. But this took all the scold out of him.
    ‘You poor sons o’ guns. Whatever happened?’
    ‘Bees,’ Vic said. ‘Leeches. Oh, mother of Moses. I wish we had kept out of that cave.’
    ‘Bees!’ exclaimed Hal. ‘You’re lucky you’re still alive. Roger, sprint down to the cabin and get that bottle of bee-salve.’
    Roger was back in a hurry and the two started sealing the wounds of the three culprits.
    ‘When will you boys ever learn?’ Hal said. ‘It’s troublemakers like you who get into trouble. You’d have a much better life if you didn’t try to be so smart.’
    ‘Guess you’re right,’ admitted Vic. But in his heart he still blamed Hal for everything that had happened. ‘We might have died,’ he said. ‘If you mean to take care of us why don’t you stay home instead of gallivanting all over the place while we suffer?’
    Hal did not answer this silly argument but continued dressing wounds. He wondered what dirty trick these big hunters would think of tomorrow.

Chapter 14
Roger’s Tiger
    ‘No hunting today,’ said Hal.
    ‘Why not?’ Roger asked.
    ‘I’ve got to look after those three sick guys. They’ve had a terrific dose of bee-poison - not to mention their loss of blood to the leeches. They are covered with bee-bumps. ‘ They have a high fever and a bad case of ague.’
    ‘What’s ague?’
    It’s a kind of malaria. Chills and fever. You saw yesterday what it did to them. With ague, you