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Señor Bogardi drew his revolver and fired several shots in the air, hoping to frighten Prince and make him cower in some corner, whence he might be driven into another cage. But the shots seemed only to frighten the lion into further action. Joe had a glimpse of the tawny form, with switching tail, dodging under the other animal cages which were drawn up in a circle around the tent.
Softly," began the lion tamer, as he removed the canvas cover. "Softly now, old boy!" But no sooner was the cover off than the lion, which had been lying down, jumped up with a roar and dashed himself against the iron door of his cage. Women in the crowd screamed with terror, and there was a rush to get out of the tent. "There is no danger!" Señor Bogardi assured the people.
Prince seemed to have run in and run out again, though the circus folk and others on the outside of the tent, on being questioned, said they had seen nothing of the beast. "Well, we've got to find him, that's all," decided Jim, "and before dark if we can. Get a crowd of men, Bogardi, and start out and see what you can do."
Fortunately the animal tent was deserted by all save the keepers, the audience having filed into the tent where the main show was going on. "Head him off now! Head him off!" cried Tom Layton, the elephant man, as he saw the tiger dart out of its cage a flash of yellow and black. "Head him off! Don't let him get in the main top!" "That's right! Head him off!" cried Señor Bogardi, the lion tamer.
Then there was Benny Turton, who did a "tank act," and was billed as a "human fish." Jim Tracy, the ringmaster, Bill Watson, the veteran clown, and his wife, the circus "mother," Tom Layton, the elephant man who taught the big creatures many tricks, were only a few of Joe's friends. Among others might be mentioned Señor Bogardi, the lion tamer, Mrs.
When Señor Bogardi came back, glad indeed to find that his lion was safe, he said Prince was much quieter and need not be concealed behind canvas, for the present at least. Joe's stand was temporarily repaired and he made ready for the evening performance. "I guess we'll let the dog trick go for a while," he said to Mr. Fleet.
"You couldn't drag 'em in." "Come on, boys!" called Señor Bogardi. "We must get him before he runs out of the big tent." He led the throng of animal men and others in the chase. The men carried ropes, sharp iron prongs and other weapons, while the lion-tamer had sent to the cook wagons for a big chunk of raw beef with which to placate Prince, in case he should come close enough.
The animal men who had not gone out with Señor Bogardi to search through the town were hurriedly summoned. The spare cage was wheeled in and arrangements made to again put Prince into captivity. "Is he there yet?" asked the ring-master, as he came up to where Mr. Fleet stood. "Yes. He hasn't made a move or sign. Of course we're only guessing Joe and I that he's under there.
"He got me some medicine once, when I had a terrible toothache, and I'll never forget it." "And will he not ever be able to appear in public again?" asked Señor Bogardi, the lion tamer. "I don't know about that," answered Joe. "Never is a long while. He'll have to stay in the hospital for some time, the doctor says." "Ugh! Hospitals!" exclaimed Madame Bullriva, the strong woman.
"What's the matter, Señor Bogardi?" asked Joe, as he saw the lion tamer with an anxious look in his face, standing near a cage which was covered with canvas. "More trouble?" "Yes, friend Strong, more trouble," replied the man who went into their cages and put the lions through their several tricks. "This time it is Prince." "The big Barbary lion?" "Yes.
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