considerable commotion in the audience. Men on the highest seats
popped their heads through the openings in the tent-cover and reported
that a heavy shower was coming up. Anxious mothers began to collect
their flocks of children as hens do their chickens at sunset; timid
people told cheerful stories of tents blown over in gales, cages upset
and wild beasts let loose. Many left in haste, and the performers
hurried to finish as soon as possible.

"I'm going now before the crowd comes, so I can get a lift home. I see
two or three folks I know, so I'm off;" and, climbing hastily down,
Sam vanished without further ceremony.

"Better wait till the shower is over. We can go and see the animals
again, and get home all dry, just as well as not," observed Ben,
encouragingly, as Billy looked anxiously at the billowing canvas over
his head, the swaying posts before him, and heard the quick patter of
drops outside, not to mention the melancholy roar of the lion which
sounded rather awful through the sudden gloom which filled the strange
place.

"I wouldn't miss the tigers for anything. See, they are pulling in the
cart now, and the shiny man is all ready with his gun. Will he shoot
any of them, Ben?" asked Bab, nestling nearer with a little shiver of
apprehension, for the sharp crack of a rifle startled her more than
the loudest thunder-clap she ever heard.

"Bless you, no, child; it's only powder to make a noise and scare 'em.
I wouldn't like to be in his place, though; father says you can never
trust tigers as you can lions, no matter how tame they are. Sly
fellers, like cats, and when they scratch it's no joke, I tell you,"