evidently much perplexed. She knew
perfectly well that her duty would not be fulfilled until she had
rubbed the figures out, and the sponge was not to be found. Mr.
Bartholomew said nothing, gave her no look or hint or sign to help her
out of her predicament, but sat in his chair and waited. At last she
deliberately stepped on the platform again, stretched her head up and
wiped the figures out with her mouth, at which the audience applauded
as if they would bring the roof down. That was something clearly not
in the programme, but a bit of independent reasoning. Yet, having
done so much, she knew that something was not right. About that
sponge--what had become of it? It was her business to lay it on the
table when she was through using it. She hesitated, looked this way
and that, started to go, came back, dreadfully puzzled and uncertain,
suddenly spied it, set her teeth in it, put it on the table, and
went to her place, with a clear conscience, no doubt, and the people
cheered more wildly than before.

[Illustration: A GAME OF LEAP-FROG.]

This was to me one of the most interesting things I witnessed; and
connecting it with some facts Mr. Bartholomew communicated, it was
doubly so.

[Illustration: NELLIE ROLLS THE BARREL OVER THE "TETER."]

He said that it was his practice not to interfere or help; the horse
knew just what she was to do, and he preferred to wait and let her
think it out for herself. The other horses all knew too if there was
any failure or mistake, and the offender was closely watched by them,
and in some way reproved by them if they could get the opportunity,
and at times this little by-play became very amusing.

After this was most exquisite dancing by Bucephalus, and by Caesar,
whose steppings were in perfect rhythm to the music. Then the latter
turned in a circle to the right or the left and walked around defining
the figure eight, just as any one in the audience chose to request;
and Abdallah came in with a string of bells around her, and paced,
cantered, galloped, trotted, marched or walked as the word was given.
The horses were generally expected to come to the footlights and
bow to the audience at the close of any feat; occasionally one would
forget to do this, and then some of his comrades would shoulder or
buffet him, or Mr. Bartholomew would give a reminder, "That is not
all, is it?" and back would come the delinquent, and bow and bow
twenty times as fast as he could, as if there could