rofessor Thunder greatly excited the interest of the crowd by announcing
that a sum of one pound and a silver medal valued at one guinea would be
given to any person courageous enough to follow Madame Marve's example
and enter the cage containing Mahdi, the Missing Link.

Nickie was resentful, as this meant a most energetic demonstration of
savagery on his part, following a fawning and submissive manner, while
madame, wearing a large sombrero and a man's coat, moved about in the
cage, cracking a whip.

The people gathered before the cage gazed upon madame with stupid awe,
while the strange monster capered, or prostrated himself in great
humility at her bidding. When she had withdrawn, and after the Professor
had made his prodigal offer, it was Mahdi's duty to stimulate
ungovernable ferocity, in order to deter any too-venturesome spirits.
Nickie did his best. He bounded madly round the cage, he tore at the
straw, tooth and nail, he roared terribly, and snatched furiously at the
people near the bars. The crowd retreated in terror; all save one woman,
a grim-looking female with the indurated face of an old-established
lodginghouse-keeper.

This woman came forward, and jabbed at Mahdi the Missing Link with her
umbrella. "Gerrout, yeh brute!" she said. Mahdi backed into shades
carefully provided at the back of the cage, and the old woman reached her
umbrella through the bars, and made a hit at him. Mahdi seemed to cower.

"A prize of one pound and a silver medal to any person daring enough to
enter the cage of Mahdi, the man-monkey!" repeated Professor Thunder,
with great hardihood.

"Wha's that?" gasped the woman.

Professor Thunder repeated his intrepid words; aside he hissed "Bellow,
damn you--bellow!"

Nickie bellowed; he jumped with desperate energy, he clawed up the straw,
but he remained in the shadow.

"A pound!" cried the woman. "A pound jist fer goin' in with that ape?
Done! I'm yer man."

The Professor was thunderstruck, so also was Mahdi the Missing Link.
Never since Thunder invested in his famous fake of the man-monkey had man
or woman been found courageous enough to beard the monster in his den for
a pound. Never had any been expected to. Professor Thunder stood
non-plussed.

Madame went to the back of the cage. "Howl!" she whispered. "Howl! Do you
want to ruin us?"

Mahdi howled, he growled ferociously, he made an attempt to savage
Ammonia. His paroxysms were fearful to look upon, but the woman d