cing scream in chorus the school turned and fled; it broke
pell-mell from the tent, headed by Miss Arnott, who executed a remarkable
sprint, taking her age, her dignity and her lack of training into
consideration.

It was Madame Marve who rescued Nickie from the clutches of the gorilla,
having subdued the brute with a discharge from a squirt charged with
ammonia; but Professor Thunder was not thankful, he hadn't time, his
magnificent mind was already busy on ways and means of repairing the
mischief done to his Missing Link and to his reputation as an honourable
showman.

Of course, the revelation resulting from Ammonia's misconduct would go
round the place like wildfire. There might be a raid of indignant
residents, a prosecution for fraud, and there wasn't time to run.

The raid came in due time. Ten heads of families accompanied by Quinn,
the local constable, bore down upon the Museum of Marvels within an hour.
Professor Thunder met them at the entrance, with his studious manner and
his solemn black hat. The raid was going to express itself forcibly; it
did refer to "iniquitous frauds," "shameful imposition," "scoundrels,"
&c., but the Professor's big, penetrating voice, his heavy-as-lead
manner, triumphed.

"Most unfortunate, gentlemen, a most lamentable disaster," he said. "My
valuable Missing Link is more seriously injured than I imagined, and I
may lose him, which would be a heavy blow, indeed, as the College of
Naturalists of London, values the beast at four thousand and seventy
pounds."

"It's a fraud--a blanky imposition!" cried a fierce little man.

"Gentlemen will you favour me by stepping into the museum, and judging
for yourself," said Thunder gravely. "You will find the Missing Link in a
low state, but Madame Marve has done all that surgical skill could do.
The murderous attacks of the gorilla scalped the poor creature, and tore
the skin from his body, but the wounds have been stitched up--there is
still hope. This way, gentle men, and quietly, if you please."

The surprised and subdued deputation found Mahdi, the Missing Link, lying
moaning on his straw, his wounds--artfully bloodstained--all stitched up.
There were white bandages about his head and his injured arms.

"But the girls say it was a man gasped the fierce deputationist.

"A not unnatural mistake, my dear sir," said the Professor, "Strip the
poor creature of its hairy hide and its resemblance to a human creature
would deceive the most