alls,
the sharp, metallic noises of the workmen setting up the great
performing-cage came to a stop. There was a burst of music from the
orchestra. That, too, ceased. The restless hum of the unseen masses
around the arena died away into an expectant hush. It was time to go
on. At the farther end of the passage, by the closed door leading to
the performing cage, Hansen appeared. Tomaso opened the puma's cage.
King dropped out with a soft thud of his great paws, and padded
swiftly down the passage, his master following. Hansen slid wide the
door, admitting a glare of light, a vast, intense rustle of
excitement; and King marched majestically out into it, eying calmly
the tier on climbing tier of eager faces. It was his customary
privilege, this, to make the entrance alone, a good half minute ahead
of the rest of the troupe; and he seemed to value it. Halfway around
the big cage he walked, then mounted his pedestal, sat up very
straight, and stared blandly at the audience. A salvo of clapping ran
smartly round the tiers--King's usual tribute, which he had so learned
to expect that any failure of it would have dispirited him for the
whole performance.

Signor Tomaso had taken his stand, whip in hand, just inside the cage,
with Hansen opposite him, to see that the animals, on entry, went each
straight to his own bench or pedestal. Any mistake in this connection
was sure to lead to trouble, each beast being almost childishly
jealous of its rights. Inside the long passage an attendant was
opening one cage after another; and in a second more the animals began
to appear in procession, filing out between the immaculate Signor and
the roughly clad Swede. First came a majestic white Angora goat,
carrying high his horned and bearded head, and stepping most daintily
upon slim, black hoofs. Close behind, and looking just ready to pounce
upon him but for dread of the Signor's eye, came slinking stealthily a
spotted black-and-yellow leopard, ears back and tail twitching. He
seemed ripe for mischief, as he climbed reluctantly on to his pedestal
beside the goat; but he knew better than to even bare a claw. And as
for the white goat, with his big golden eyes superciliously half
closed, he ignored his dangerous neighbor completely, while his jaws
chewed nonchalantly on a bit of brown shoe-lace which he had picked up
in the passage.

Close behind the leopard came a bored-looking lion, who marched with
listless dignity straight to his place