y had not gone
far, however, when they met the attaches of the menagerie and circus to
whom they related what had occurred.

The proprietors were relieved on learning the whole truth, for there
could be little doubt that the sudden ending of the career of Vladdok
was the means of saving more than one person from death.

As for Jack Norton and Billy Wiggins, it was generally conceded that
they spoke the truth, when they declared:

"Our fathers wouldn't let us go to the circus that afternoon, but I
guess we had a bigger circus than any of you all to ourselves."

LOST IN THE SOUTH SEA.

Captain William Gooding was commander of the _Tewksbury Sweet_, of
Portland, Maine, and was lost in the South Pacific in the spring of
1889. This fine American bark sailed from New Castle, New South Wales,
on the 17th of March, bound for Hong Kong. Everything went well until
the 9th of the following month, when she encountered a severe gale.
Despite all that skillful seamanship could do, and in the face of the
most strenuous exertions, she struck the dangerous Susanne Reef, near
Poseat Island, one of the Caroline group of the South Sea.

The wreck was a total one. The vessel broke up rapidly, and seeing
that nothing could be done, the captain and crew, numbering ten men in
all, took to one of the boats, carrying with them only a single
chronometer belonging to the ship. Even after entering the small boat
they were still in great danger, and only succeeded after the utmost
difficulty in reaching a small islet some miles to the southward. The
storm was still raging so violently that the shelter was a most welcome
one, though as there were no animals or vegetation, or even water upon
the island, their stay of necessity could be only temporary. They had
saved nothing to eat or drink, and to remain where they were meant a
lingering death.

After several hours waiting, the tempest abated somewhat, and launching
their boat once more, they rowed toward the main island.

"The end is likely to be the same in either case," remarked the captain
to the second mate, George W. Harrison, as they approached the land.

"And why?" inquired the latter: "we shall find food and water there."

"True enough; but there are no fiercer savages on the South Sea than
those of this island, and I have never heard that they were
particularly friendly toward the crews of shipwrecked vessels."

"They may not discover us until we can signal some passi