ht.

"I mean," added the manager, "of course, in keeping Brutus out of the
cage, and confining your handling to Pompey, who is not a bad-natured
animal. Have you got the courage to go into him?"

Rounders said he had.

"I don't want any foolhardiness," continued the manager. "If you can
manage to make Pompey run around the cage a little, that will do until
Brinton recovers."

A few minutes afterward Rounders was in the room of the wounded tamer,
to whom he said:

"I'm going in to do the business with Pompey, until you get well."

The expression of languid suffering left the face of Brinton, as he
asked, "What are you going to do with him?"

"Do what you did with him--or try to."

"Perhaps you may do it, Rounders."

"If I knew the 'meat jerk,' I don't know but I might try that on him."

"Look here, Rounders," said the reclining man, "I have a word to say to
you. You tried to get Sally Stubbs away from me; for that I didn't like
you. But what you have done to-night wipes that out, and puts something
to the credit side of your account. This being the case, let me give you
this advice: Don't try the 'meat-jerk,' and when you go into Pompey, go
at him before he has time to think."

Brinton was left in the town where he met with his mishap, under charge
of the doctor, and the train moved on to the next village, where
Rounders was to make his first appearance as a performer. He had faith
in hot iron, and as soon as he got inside of the cage door he went to
Pompey with the magic wand. The animal stood a moment and lashed his
tail, when Rounders quickly frizzled his nose before he had time for
reflection; then he gave way, retreating to one end. Here Rounders
strode toward him with his whip and gave him a cut, returned to the
middle of the cage, and stamped his foot as he had seen Brinton do. The
animal hesitated. Rounders stamped his foot again and raised his whip;
then Pompey jumped over his shoulder and up and down the ends of the car
in the traditional fashion. The new tamer pulled open his jaws, lay down
between his paws, and stood over him with a foot on his neck in sign of
victory. After which he bowed and retired. This was the whole
performance as far as the lions were concerned, the others--Cleopatra
and Brutus--being simply exhibited.

"Not bad for a beginner," said the manager when he came out of the cage.
Miss Stubbs, who was standing by in short cloud-like skirts and
flesh-colored tights, said somethi