ck.

For the rest of the time Michael shared his large pen with Jack. They
were well cared for, as were all animals at Cedarwild, receiving frequent
scrubbings and being kept clean of vermin. For a dog only three years
old, Jack was very sedate. Either he had never learned to play or had
already forgotten how. On the other hand, he was sweet-tempered and
equable, and he did not resent the early shows of crustiness which
Michael made. And Michael quickly ceased from being crusty and took
pleasure in their quiet companionship. There were no demonstrations.
They were content to lie awake by the hour, merely pleasantly aware of
each other's proximity.

Occasionally, Michael could hear Sara making a distant scene or sending
out calls which he knew were for him. Once she got away from her keeper
and located Michael coming out of the leopard cage. With a shrill squeal
of joy she was upon him, clinging to him and chattering the hysterical
tale of all her woes since they had been parted. The leopard man looked
on tolerantly and let her have her few minutes. It was her keeper who
tore her away in the end, cling as she would to Michael, screaming all
the while like a harridan. When her hold was broken, she sprang at the
man in a fury, and, before he could throttle her to subjection, sank her
teeth into his thumb and wrist. All of which was provocative of great
hilarity to the onlookers, while her squalls and cries excited the
leopards to spitting and leaping against their bars. And, as she was
borne away, she set up a soft wailing like that of a heart-broken child.

* * * * *

Although Michael proved a success with the leopards, Raoul Castlemon
never bought him from Collins. One morning, several days later, the
arena was vexed by uproar and commotion from the animal cages. The
excitement, starting with revolver shots, was communicated everywhere.
The various lions raised a great roaring, and the many dogs barked
frantically. All tricks in the arena stopped, the animals temporarily
unstrung and unable to continue. Several men, among them Collins, ran in
the direction of the cages. Sara's keeper dropped her chain in order to
follow.

"It's Alphonso--shillings to pence it is," Collins called to one of his
assistants who was running beside him. "He'll get Ralph yet."

The affair was all but over and leaping to its culmination when Collins
arrived. Castlemon was just being dragged out, and as Collins ran he
c