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Updated: June 7, 2025
He occupied a wretched house. Rain dripped in through the roof, rats scuttled across the floor, and wind shook the walls. When the Englishman expressed his astonishment that so rich and powerful a chief should dwell in such a mean abode Tippo Tib said: "It is better that I should live in a house like this because it makes me remember that I am only an ordinary man like others.
He could not reply to a letter written on the 23th of January, owing to the great difficulty of communication, the considerable distance, and the short interval which elapsed between the 25th of January and the fall of the Empire of Mysore, which happened on the 20th of April following. The letter to Tippo Saib commenced "Citizen-Sultan!"
Still, several of them went down along the shore to a considerable distance, but came back without having seen any signs of the missing party, two of them who went beyond the rest declaring that they could not get any further, as Tippo Sahib had chased them, and that they had had to run for their lives.
They had not closed the shutter after his mishap, and, when they saw him wheel and run back, they stood by the window ready to receive him. Jim Travers was a good runner; and when it is stated that he was certain Tippo Sahib was skurrying at his heels, it need not be added that he "surpassed himself" in the way of fleetness.
"You should have had Tippo Sahib at your heels, sir," said Paul. "He showed us yesterday that he was ready enough to fight, and he is twice as savage on shore." Some time was occupied in cutting up and packing the seal's flesh, and then, each man carrying a load, they turned their steps towards the Flagstaff-hill.
"If we ever come across him again I shall know him by his ugly phiz." While they remained in the neighbourhood Paul, however, could not help looking round every now and then, expecting to see Tippo Sahib charging out of the wood towards him. On returning to the shore, they found young Broke by the side of the cows. "Look here," he exclaimed, "the creatures have got first-rate milk.
His dexterity enabled him to keep fair command of his limbs, and he bounded to his feet in a twinkling, at the moment when he expected Tippo Sahib to come down upon him like a clawing avalanche. It may be doubted whether the fiercest of wild creatures would have withstood such an assault. Even though the sun was shining, the tiger knew something of the meaning of that glowing brand.
Tippo, however, seizing the blade of Paul's oar, held it so tightly that he nearly hauled it out of his hands. Not till he had received several blows on the nose from the other oars would he let go. "Why, he has nearly bitten my oar in two," cried Paul. "Better that than your leg," observed Willy. "That's Tippo; I have no doubt about him," cried Paul. "He means mischief."
Standing erect, the man remained motionless for a full minute, during which he kept his gaze fixed on the tiger, staring into those orbs as if he would "look him through." Tippo Sahib was uneasy for a brief while, and then succumbed to that mysterious hypnotic influence which, in some cases, is equally potent with persons. He became humble, meek, and, if the term can be allowed, penitent.
Some unaccountable attraction seemed to have brought Tippo Sahib back to the dwelling where he had met with so interesting an experience that afternoon. But all this being so, Tom Gordon might well ask himself what good the presence of the animal promised to be to him.
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