somersault in his cage. Poor dog, let him out, Freddie; won't you?"

"He isn't a dog--he's a lion," insisted the little boy. "I dassen't
let out a lion, or he might bite you."

But Snap had no idea of playing the lion all the while. Suddenly
Downy, the duck, with a loud quack, got her leg loose from the string
and flew out across the room. This so surprised Snoop, who had started
back over the tight rope, that he fell off with a cry of alarm.

This was too much for Snap, who evidently did not think he was having
his share of the fun. With a loud bark and a rush he burst from his
cage of chairs, intent on playing with Snoop, for he and the cat were
great friends.

Just at that moment fat Dinah, the colored cook, came into the room to
ask Mrs. Bobbsey something. Snoop, seeing the open door, and being
tired of doing tricks for the children, made a dash to get out,
darting under Dinah's skirts.

Snap, thinking this was part of the game, rushed after his friend the
cat, but when he tried to dive underneath Dinah's dress there was an
accident.

He knocked the feet from under the fat cook, and she sat down on the
floor with a force that jarred the whole house, just missing sitting
on Snap.

"Fo' de lub ob goodness what am de mattah?" cried Dinah. "Am it an
earfquake Mrs. Bobbsey?"