em with boards so the sudden rush of the lion would not knock
them over.

"Now bring up the cage!" ordered Tracy. It was on wheels, one of the
regular wagon affairs, and the spring door was braced open, with a man
ready to snap it shut as soon as Prince should be inside. A big piece
of raw beef was thrown inside the cage as a bait.

"Now then, Joe, I'm afraid we'll have to spoil some of your
ornamentation," said the ring-master grimly. "I'm going to slit down
one side of the canvas, but we'll have it fixed for you again. I want a
good opening for Prince to run out through when we start him going."

A quick motion of a keen knife, and one side of the canvas fell away.
There was another menacing growl and then, in a far corner of the
hiding place he had chosen, Prince was seen curled up in a most
comfortable fashion.

"The rascal!" said Jim Tracy. "Come out of that. Get behind him, some
of you men, and prod him with the irons. Be easy, we don't want him to
go on another rampage."

Reaching under the canvas, the men, with prodding irons, poked away
until they touched the crouching body of the lion. With a roar Prince
sprang up. He saw light only in one direction, where the canvas had
been cut. He started toward that, caught a glimpse of the barred cage
and hesitated. Then there came to him the odor of the meat, and he
could not resist. Prince had had enough of liberty. With slow steps he
went into the cage, gave one roar, and began to eat. The door was
snapped shut and Prince was caught.

"Good work!" exclaimed the ring-master in relieved tones. "Now we can
go on with the show."

Messengers were sent to recall the other lion-hunters, and great
precautions were taken to see that this second cage was secure. Prince
seemed to have calmed down after his brief freedom.

"We've got to let the public know that the lion is caught," decided Jim
Tracy. "Otherwise we'll be playing to empty benches to-night, and that
won't do."

Accordingly men were sent out to spread the report that the beast was
captured, and could be safely viewed behind strong bars at the circus
that night. When Senor Bogardi came back, glad indeed to find that his
lion was safe, he said Prince was much quieter and need not be
concealed behind canvas, for the present at least.

Joe's stand was temporarily repaired and he made ready for the evening
performance.

"I guess we'll let the dog trick go for a while," he said to Mr. Fleet.
"Probably it will