to the roof of the verandah. He was dancing clumsily on the corrugated
iron, and gesticulating, with his long, shaggy hands. Nickie was
declaring with the warmth of absolute conviction that he was a king, but
the yelling of the crowd rendered his speech inaudible.

"I'm a king!" cried the Missing Link. "Behold in me your rightful
sovereign. Bow down t' ye ri'ful sovereign, ye base born!" He threw five
fried sausages into the crowd.

The crowd continued yelling, and Nickie broke into a vain-glorious song,
and capered like an idiot brandishing a Vienna loaf.

Professor Thunder beat on his forehead like the baffled villain in the
play. "Ten thousand furies!" he howled, and dashed for the stairs.

While the Missing Link was still capering, Professor Thunder appeared at
the window. He climbed through. The crowd loudly applauded his courage.
He descended upon Mahdi, he seized him. The crowd cheered vociferously.
Professor Thunder kicked the Missing Link. He dragged him back to the
window, and kicked him through. The crowd nearly went frantic in its
appreciation of such heroism.

Presently the Professor appeared on the stairs, dragging the hairy
monster after him. He dragged it by the leg. It bumped cruelly on the
steps. The Professor pulled the Missing Link to his feet, took him by his
rudimentary tail and the scuff of his neck, and ran him out of the shop.
He ran the grizzly monster up the street as a publican ejects the
unwelcome drunk. The crowd followed, cheering still.

It was an inspiriting sight. The Missing Link running on tip-toes, his