Tom looked somewhat crestfallen at this view of the question, but Posy said,—
"We'll play these were good, kind tigers, and didn't hurt anybody, won't we?"
So it was agreed that these tigers were exceptional tigers, and the hunting-party started out in search of game.
"Dear me!" cried Posy suddenly, "I saw a great ugly rat run across there."
"It couldn't have been a rat," said Tom. "They don't dare to come out here; they're afraid of the barn-cat."
"It was a rat," persisted Posy; "I know it was. It had a great long tail, and it had long yellow teeth, and one of them was broken off. I do wish the barn-cat were here."
"No matter," said Nancy, who was eager to continue the tiger-hunt; "he's gone now, and I don't believe he'll come back."
So the hunting-party started once more, and the dogs kept ahead, just exactly as if
