I, for one, am not going to miss it merely
to get a little sleep. I can sleep 'most any old time."

"Yes, but there probably won't be anything doing until morning, anyway,"
said Burton with a smile; "you could get your sleep, and come back
again."

But the three comrades were of one mind, and resolved to spend the night
around the camp fire, so as to miss nothing of the novel experience.
Fortunately, the next day was Saturday, and, as it happened, none of
them had any recitations on for that day. This left them free to do
about as they liked, and it did not take them long to make up their
minds.

They settled themselves around the fire, and soon had good reason to
feel glad that they had decided to stay. The last arrivals had brought
food and coffee in plenty, and this was soon passed around, everybody
making a hearty meal. Then pipes were lit, and those of the circus men
who were not on duty began swapping tales of adventures and experiences
while following the "game," that were teeming with interest to the boys.
Many of the men were fairly well educated, and told what they had to
tell in a very interesting way. Every once in a while those about the
fire would leave to replace some of their companions who had been
watching some time, and the men thus relieved would have a new batch of
stories to relate. Around the crackling, roaring fire it was very warm
and comfortable, and time flew by faster than the boys realized. They
had never felt more wide awake in their lives, and they were much
surprised when the first faint streaks of dawn in the eastern sky told
of approaching day.

As soon as it became light enough to see, two carpenters started
constructing a wooden cage out of lumber they had brought with them, and
had soon built a cage large enough and strong enough, it seemed to the
boys, to hold an elephant. When the work was completed, several men
lifted the cage and carried it to the very edge of the woods. Then,
having located the place where the lion had entered, they placed the
cage directly across the trail. It had been provided with a door that
slid up and down, and this was fastened open with a stout cord.

By the time these preparations were finished Mr. Burton hurried up, and
carefully inspected the work. He had just returned from a trip around
the trees, and reported everything quiet so far. "Now, boys," he said,
"get a move on, and we'll carry this trap a little farther in. Old Leo
might not want to