Part 15 (2/2)

”I wonder if that's Princess cutting up,” he reflected. ”Guess I'll go in and have a look. I hope nothing happens to the senor.”

Though lion tamers, as well as other performers with wild beasts, seem to take matters easily, slipping into the cage with the ferocious creatures as a matter of course, they take their lives in their hands whenever they do it. No one can say when a lion or a tiger may suddenly turn fierce and spring upon its trainer. And there is not much chance of escape. The claws of a lion or a tiger go deep, even in one swift blow of its powerful paws.

Joe started for the animal tent, and then remembered that he needed in his act that day a certain short trapeze, the ends of the ropes being provided with hooks that caught over the bar of another trapeze.

He hurried back to get it, and then, as the unusual roars kept up in the arena, he hastened there. As he had surmised, it was Princess who was roaring, her fellow captives joining in. Senor Bogardi had slipped into the cage, and was waiting until the creature had calmed down a little.

Cages in which trainers perform with wild beasts are built in two parts. In one end is a sort of double door, forming a compartment into which the trainer can slip for safety. The senor had opened the outer door of the cage and slipped in, it being fastened after him.

But he was still separated from Princess by another iron-barred door that worked on spring hinges. And Princess did not seem to want this door opened. She sprang against it with savage roars and thrust her paws through, trying to reach her trainer. He sought to drive her back into a far corner, so that he would have room to enter. Once in, he felt he could subdue her. But Princess would not get back sufficiently, though Senor Bogardi ordered her, and even flicked her through the bars with the heavy whip he carried.

”I guess you'd better cut out the act to-day,” advised Jim Tracy, as he saw how matters were going. The women and children were beginning to get nervous, some of them hastening into the other tent. Men, too, were looking about as if for a quick means of escape in case anything happened.

”No, no. I must make her obey me,” insisted the performer. ”If I give in to her now I will lose power over her. Get back, Princess! Get back! Down!” he ordered.

But the lioness only snarled and struck at the bars with her paws.

Then she threw herself against the spring door, roaring. The cage rocked and shook, and several women screamed.

”Cut out the act!” ordered the ring-master. ”It isn't safe with this crowd.”

”That's right,” chimed in a man. ”We know it isn't your fault, professor.”

”Thank you!” Senor Bogardi bowed. ”For the comfort of the audience I will omit my act to-day. But I will subdue Princess later.”

There was a breath of relief from the crowd as the trainer prepared to leave the cage. Men who had fastened the door after him raised the iron bar that held it so he could emerge.

The lion-tamer slipped from the cage through the outside door, which was about to be shut when Princess, with all her force, threw herself against the inner spring door.

Whether it was insecurely fastened or whether she broke the fastenings, was not disclosed at the moment, but the door gave way and the enraged beast sprang into the smaller compartment and toward the outer door.

”Quick!” cried the trainer. ”Up with that bar! Fasten the door, or she'll be out among us!”

The circus men raised the bar, but the cage was swaying so from the leapings of the lioness that they could not slip the iron in place. It almost dropped from their hands.

Joe Strong saw the danger. He stood near the cage, the crowd having rushed back, men and women yelling with fright. Joe saw the outer door swing open. In another instant the lioness would be out.

At that moment the men dropped the iron bar.

”Quick! Something to fasten the door--to hold it!” cried the lion-tamer.

Joe acted in a flash and not an instant too soon. He forced the strong hickory bar of his small trapeze into the places meant to receive the iron bar, and as the lioness, with a roar of rage, flung herself against the door, it did not give way, but held. Joe had prevented her escape.

CHAPTER XIII

A BAD BLOW

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