ogether phenomenal, his chief
felt a qualm of pique upon being warned against the big puma. He had
too just an appreciation of Hansen's judgment, however, to quite
disregard the warning, and he turned it over curiously in his mind as
he went to his dressing-room. Emerging a few minutes later in the
black-and-white of faultless evening dress, without a speck on his
varnished shoes, he moved down along the front of the cages,
addressing to the occupant of each, as he passed, a sharp,
authoritative word which brought it to attention.

With the strange, savage smell of the cages in his nostrils, that
bitter, acrid pungency to which his senses never grew blunted, a new
spirit of understanding was wont to enter Tomaso's brain. He would
feel a sudden kinship with the wild creatures, such a direct and
instant comprehension as almost justified his fancy that in some
previous existence he had himself been a wild man of the jungle and
spoken in their tongue. As he looked keenly into each cage, he knew
that the animal whose eyes for that moment met his was in untroubled
mood. This, till he came to the cage containing the latest addition to
his troupe, a large cinnamon bear, which was rocking restlessly to
and fro and grumbling to itself. The bear was one which had been long
in captivity and well trained. Tomaso had found him docile, and clever
enough to be admitted at once to the performing troupe. But to-night
the beast's eyes were red with some ill-humor. Twice the trainer spoke
to him before he heeded; but then he assumed instantly an air of
mildest subservience. The expression of a new-weaned puppy is not more
innocently mild than the look which a bear can assume when it so
desires.

"Ah, ha! old sport! So it's you that's got a grouch on to-night; I'll
keep an eye on you!" he muttered to himself. He snapped his heavy whip
once, and the bear obediently sat up on its haunches, its great paws
hanging meekly. Tomaso looked it sharply in the eye. "Don't forget,
now, and get funny!" he admonished. Then he returned to the first
cage, which contained the puma, and went up close to the bars. The
great cat came and rubbed against him, purring harshly.

"There ain't nothing the matter with _you_, boy, I reckon," said
Tomaso, scratching him affectionately behind the ears. "Andy must have
wheels in his head if he thinks I've got to keep my eyes peeled on
_your_ account."

Out beyond the iron-grilled passage, beyond the lighted canvas w