h said,

"Jim Rounders, don't do it." But Rounders was not a man to renounce a
project when it was once lodged in his head; and he boldly reached down
to take hold of the meat on which Pompey was feeding. A gurgling growl,
rising to a high key, was the response, and a spring. Rounders was down
and the beast on top of him. At that moment the cage door flew open.
Sally Stubbs ran with the magic wand against the beast and stuck it into
his mouth, and as it went in, the act sounded like putting a steak on
the fire. She caught the prostrate man by the arm, and drew him behind
her with her free hand, and thus holding him, she dragged him backing
toward the door, holding out her rod in front to prevent a renewal of
the attack. The two got out safe together. On examination it was found
that Rounders had sustained no other injury than some severe bruises.

"No more of that, Rounders," said the manager. "I don't want the
prospects of my show ruined by a tragedy. You have had a narrow escape.
Let it be a lesson to you not to undertake a thing you don't
understand."

Rounders's first act after the rescue was to kiss Miss Stubbs on both
cheeks, saying as he did so,

"Sally Stubbs, you are the only one of the kind."

"_Mister_ Rounders," said she, pertly pushing him back, "none of them
liberties with me. I may be foolish enough to go into a cage after you,
but I'm not foolish enough to suffer them things."

After that there was no performance with the lions for over a week,
during which Rounders was despondent. He was still occupied with the
extraordinary feat of removing meat from under the jaws of a feeding
lion. It pursued him night and day, and he told Miss Stubbs that he
would never be happy until he found out the secret.

At length Brinton overtook the company, having come by railway. He was
completely restored, and as anxious to begin again as the manager to
have him do so. He was informed of the accident which had befallen him
who had attempted to walk in his traces. He turned to Rounders saying,

"Now I suppose you'll own that I wanted to do you a good turn."

"I acknowledge it--I was presumptuous and wanted tapping," answered
Rounders with proper humility.

"As I told you before," continued Brinton, "I owe you something. Sit
down here and let me talk to you."

Brinton picked up a piece of shingle, took out his knife, and whittled
as the two sat down together.

"You want to learn the business, but you begin at