Page 161 - A Little Bush Maid

and moved, but did not leave her prey.

"Make ’em sing out!" the woman said sharply. Someone handed the clown
an iron rod sharpened at one end. He passed it through the bars, and

prodded a cub on the foot. Tt whined angrily, and a quick growl came from
the ring.

"Harder, Dick!"

The clown obeyed. There was a sharp, amazed yelp of pain from the cub,
and an answering roar from the mother. Another protesting cry--and then
again that yellow streak as the lioness left her prey and sprang to her baby,

with a deafening roar. The clown tugged the cubs sharply back into the
recesses of the cage as the mother hurled herself through the narrow

opening. Behind her the bars rattled into place and she was restored to
captivity.

Tt was the work of only a moment to rush into the ring, where the tamer lay
huddled and motionless. Kind hands lifted him and carried him away

beyond the performance tent, with its eager spectators. The attendants
quickly unharnessed the two tame lions, and they were removed in another
cage, brought in by the elephant for their benefit.

Norah slipped a hot, trembling hand into her father’s.

"Let’s go, Daddy--T’ve had enough."

"More than enough, T think," said Mr. Linton. "Come on, little girl."

They slipped out in the wake of the anxious procession that carried the
tamer. As they went, a performing goat and monkey passed them on their
way to the ring, and the clown capered behind them. They heard his

cheerful shout, "Here we are again!" and the laughter of the crowd as the
show was resumed.

"Plucky chap, that clown," Mr. Linton said.