ditable explanation, of the liberty he had taken
in appropriating the empty cage. As a matter of fact, the great
John L. Rutherford experienced quite a thrill of satisfaction when
his eyes lighted upon the raging Wolfhound. He had lost his one
lion from disease some weeks previously, and felt that the
menagerie lacked attractiveness in the way of fierce-looking and
bloodthirsty creatures. Like Sam, he had never even heard of an
Irish Wolfhound, or seen a dog of any breed who approached Finn in
the matter of height and length and lissom strength.

From the point of view of one who regarded him as a wild beast, and
was without knowledge of the tragic chance which had made so
gallant and docile a creature appear in the guise of a wild beast,
Finn did actually present both an awe-inspiring and a magnificent
spectacle at this moment. His cage was seven feet high, yet at one
moment Finn's fore-paws came within a few inches of touching its
roof, as he plunged erect and snarling against the partition which
separated him from the growling and spitting tiger. The next moment
saw him crouched in the far corner of the cage, as though for a
spring, his fore-legs extended, rigid as the iron bars that
enclosed him, his black eyes blazing fire and fury, his huge, naked
jaws parted to admit of a snarl of terrifying ferocity, his whole
great bulk twitching and trembling from the mixture of rage,
bewilderment, fear, and wild killing passion with which his
neighbours and his amazing situation filled him. It was an amazing
situation for such a creature, reared as Finn had been reared, and,
withal, having behind him the lordly fighting blood of fifteen
centuries of Irish Wolfhound history.

"Well, Sam, he sure is a dandy wolf," said the astonished Mr. John
L. Rutherford, who hailed, men said, from San Francisco. "I'd just
like to know who you got him from, and how you got him aboard the
train last night."

Sam began to feel that he really was a very fine fellow, and one
who had accomplished great things.

"Well, I'll tell ye, boss; I bought him from a wild Irishman named
O'Flaherty, who landed yesterday from the steamer, _Prince Rupert_,
yer know; and I brought him to the train in a zinc-lined
packin'-case with iron bars to it, which I sold to a bummer in the
goods-yard for a bob." Sam did not mention at the same time that he
had flung away the brand-new collar Finn had worn, with Mr. Sandbrook's
name upon it. "Yes, I got him into that