e
except on his feet. He had a big long whip in his hand, too. There was a
man in the cage, besides; I guess he was a keeper."

Harry said, "Get me a pair of smoked glasses, will you?"

As soon as the big man got down he took off his high hat and waved it and
said, "How do you do, sir." He said it in a big round voice, kind of.

Then he said, "I am Mr. Rinaldo Costello, proprietor of Costello's Mammoth
Show." He talked so loud that he almost scared us.

Harry just said, "When I saw you coming I thought it was the village
undertaker. We're glad to welcome you to our temporary camp. We are also
touring the country; this is my mammoth show." Then he pointed to all of
us fellows who were standing around, and Mr. Costello took off his hat
again and waved it and bowed very low and held his whip so that I thought
he was going to give us a crack with it, only he didn't. I guess he was
used to cracking that whip. It was awful funny the way Harry sat on the
fence talking to him. I don't know how it was, but that fellow could be
awful funny.

Mr. Costello said, "This young gentleman who you were kind enough to send,
has told me a very; _thrilling_ story. If it is all true I must pay my
tribute to the dauntless young scout whose valor in combat is truly
matchless."

"Excuse me while I blush," I said. I just couldn't help saying it.

"He is known as Roy the Leopard Catcher," Harry said. "In the wilds of
Catskill village he is known by the natives as Skeezeks-Skeezeks the Bold.
Allow me to introduce him." Then he grabbed me by the hair and shoved me
right out in front. Then he said, "Like all true heroes, he is modest. But
perhaps you will wish to see Marshal Foch. We shall be sorry to part with
him."

Then they all followed Mr. Costello and Harry to the barn. Mr. Costello
walked as if the whole world was looking at him. He looked awful
funny, all dressed up that way in the country. I bet he was hot. I didn't
go, because I wanted to look at that cage wagon. It had gold mermaids on
the corners of it, and oh boy, wasn't it fancy. The mermaids' tails went
all along the sides. Inside there was hay on the floor. I bet it was fun
for Dorry, riding on that thing. Every time the white horses stamped the
bells would jingle afterward Harry said it sounded like a junk wagon, but
_I_ liked them anyway.

I wished I was the man to ride inside of that cage with Marshal Foch. I
guess he knew how to handle leopards all right, hey? Maybe the