The senor had opened the outer
door of the cage and slipped in, it being fastened after him.

But he was still separated from Princess by another iron-barred door
that worked on spring hinges. And Princess did not seem to want this
door opened. She sprang against it with savage roars and thrust her
paws through, trying to reach her trainer. He sought to drive her back
into a far corner, so that he would have room to enter. Once in, he
felt he could subdue her. But Princess would not get back
sufficiently, though Senor Bogardi ordered her, and even flicked her
through the bars with the heavy whip he carried.

"I guess you'd better cut out the act to-day," advised Jim Tracy, as he
saw how matters were going. The women and children were beginning to
get nervous, some of them hastening into the other tent. Men, too,
were looking about as if for a quick means of escape in case anything
happened.

"No, no. I must make her obey me," insisted the performer. "If I give
in to her now I will lose power over her. Get back, Princess! Get
back! Down!" he ordered.

But the lioness only snarled and struck at the bars with her paws.
Then she threw herself against the spring door, roaring. The cage
rocked and shook, and several women screamed.

"Cut out the act!" ordered the ring-master. "It isn't safe with this
crowd."

"That's right," chimed in a man. "We know it isn't your fault,
professor."

"Thank you!" Senor Bogardi bowed. "For the comfort of the audience I
will omit my act to-day. But I will subdue Princess later."

There was a breath of relief from the crowd as the trainer prepared to
leave the cage. Men who had fastened the door after him raised the
iron bar that held it so he could emerge.

The lion-tamer slipped from the cage through the outside door, which
was about to be shut when Princess, with all her force, threw herself
against the inner spring door.

Whether it was insecurely fastened or whether she broke the fastenings,
was not disclosed at the moment, but the door gave way and the enraged
beast sprang into the smaller compartment and toward the outer door.

"Quick!" cried the trainer. "Up with that bar! Fasten the door, or
she'll be out among us!"

The circus men raised the bar, but the cage was swaying so from the
leapings of the lioness that they could not slip the iron in place. It
almost dropped from their hands.

Joe Strong saw the danger. He stood near the cage, the crowd