Jack threw his things into his pack and followedAnnie to the forest edge.

Teddy stayed close to them, whining. Kah and Kobounced around, chattering nervously.

As Jack got closer, he saw a tiger. The tiger waslying on his side, completely still. His eyes wereclosed. His front paw was caught in a trap.

"Is he dead?" said Jack.

"No, he's still breathing," Annie said. A tear randown her cheek. "He's worn out from struggling. Hemust have gotten caught last night. That's the sadsound we heard.""What can we do?" said Jack.

"We have to free him!" said Annie. She startedtoward the tiger.

"Wait! Wait!" Jack grabbed her. "Tigers eat people,you know." He took a deep breath. "Let's see what thebook says first.""Hurry," said Annie.

Jack opened their India book. He found a chaptercalled "Tiger Traps. " He read:

Poachers catch Indian tigers with steel traps. This isagainst the law. After trapping a tiger, they kill it andsell the body parts for money. Like the rhino, the tigeris a very endangered species.

If the killing does not end, they both faceextinction. Extinction means that someday there maybe no Indian tigers or rhinos left on earth.

"Oh, man, we do have to save him," said Jack.

Under the writing was a picture of a steel trap usedto catch tigers. Jack studied it. It looked horrible anddeadly.

"Okay," he said. He showed the picture to Annie.

"Here's the plan. I'll push down on this part. The trapwill spring open. Then you pull his leg out. Got it?""Got it," said Annie. "Sit, Teddy."The little dog sat.

The langurs watched silently as Jack and Anniemoved closer to the tiger.

15He was the most majestic creature Jack had everseen. His huge head was a dark orange color. He hadperfect black-and-white stripes around his wide face.

IThe leg in the ugly steel trap was bleeding.

Slowly, silently, Jack pushed down the lever.

He raised the bar off the tiger's leg.

The tiger kept sleeping.

Slowly, silently, Annie freed the tiger's leg. Shestroked his fur gently.

"Get well," she whispered. The tiger didn't move.

Slowly, silently, Jack and Annie stood up.

They turned around. They started tiptoeing backtoward the langurs.

Koo-koo-koo! warned Kah and Ko.

Jack and Annie turned back.

The tiger was on his feet. He stared right at them.

His eyes seemed to glow.

Jack looked about wildly. How could they escape?

The tiger snarled at Jack and Annie.

Then slowly, silently, he started toward them