Part 1 (2/2)
”No,” said the Tiger, ”I've an idea it will taste like gumdrops.”
They turned a corner, but met no one, for the people of the Emerald City were accustomed to take their naps at this hour of the afternoon.
”I wonder how many pieces I ought to tear a person into,” said the Lion, in a thoughtful voice.
”Sixty would be about right,” suggested the Tiger.
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”Would that hurt any more than to tear one into about a dozen pieces?”
inquired the Lion, with a little shudder.
”Who cares whether it hurts or not?” growled the Tiger.
The Lion did not reply. They entered a side street, but met no one.
Suddenly they heard a child crying.
”Aha!” exclaimed the Tiger. ”There is my meat.”
He rushed around a corner, the Lion following, and came upon a nice fat baby sitting in the middle of the street and crying as if in great distress.
”What's the matter?” asked the Tiger, crouching before the baby.
”I--I--I-lost my m-m-mamma!” wailed the baby.
”Why, you poor little thing,” said the great beast, softly stroking the child's head with its paw. ”Don't cry, my dear, for mamma can't be far away and I'll help you to find her.”
”Go on,” said the Lion, who stood by.
”Go on where?” asked the Tiger, looking up.
”Go on and eat your fat baby.”
”Why, you dreadful creature!” said the Tiger reproachfully; ”would you want me to eat a poor little lost baby, that doesn't know where its mother is?” And the beast gathered the little one into its strong, hairy arms and tried to comfort it by rocking it gently back and forth.
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The Lion growled low in his throat and seemed very much disappointed; but at that moment a scream reached their ears and a woman came bounding out of a house and into the street. Seeing her baby in the embrace of the monster Tiger the woman screamed again and rushed forward to rescue it, but in her haste she caught her foot in her skirt and tumbled head over heels and heels over head, stopping with such a b.u.mp that she saw many stars in the heavens, although it was broad daylight. And there she lay, in a helpless manner, all tangled up and unable to stir.
With one bound and a roar like thunder the huge Lion was beside her.
With his strong jaws he grasped her dress and raised her into an upright position.
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