“Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched,” said the engineer.
“Especially when the chicken may turn out to be a tiger,” added the colonel.
“Now, my friends,” cried Banks, “all together.”
The beam was heavy, and did not run easily in the grooves; we managed, however, to move it just a foot from the ground, but then it stuck.
Captain Hood, with his gun at full c**k, bent down, expecting to see some huge paw or nose poking out. Nothing was to be seen.
“Once more!” cried Banks. Goiimi now gave a jerk or two to the lever, and the beam again moved up. Gradually the opening became large enough to give passage even to an animal of great size. But no creature of any description appeared.
It was possible, after all, that owing to the noise made around the trap, the prisoner might hav
