The Puma 285 



straight in his eyes with fixed intensity, calHng to mind, 

 perhaps, the things he knew about this man, it was natural 

 that recollections of trainers' confidences, accounts given 

 by travellers and hunters, one's own experiences, the many 

 superstitions of civilized and savage peoples, should suggest 

 ideas which had a tendency to color and distort observation 

 upon the part of his vis-a-vis. 



No one, however, who was not under the influence of a 

 fixed prejudice, could have looked into Gato's unfaltering 

 orbs and seen there any confirmation of the common belief 

 that brutes such as he are only restrained by fear ; or that 

 they have an instinctive sense of reverence and awe in the 

 presence of human beings. All the respect this one felt 

 for his guardian he learned. Besides that, he had super- 

 stitions concerning him. In maturity his great size, and 

 reports of the wisdom he had attained to, made the ani- 

 mal famous, so that many persons desired to see him — 

 that is, through the grating at his door. But strangers 

 found no favor with this misanthropist, and he disliked 

 being stared at. Thus, after regarding such intruders with 

 a stern countenance, and taking no notice of his friend 

 under these degrading circumstances, he affected to be 

 unconscious that anybody was there, or else deliberately 

 turned his back upon the visitors. For a time it was sup- 

 posed that this mark of contempt occurred accidentally. 

 Gato could have had no conception of the significance of 

 this act as it is understood in civilized society, but he did 

 it for reasons of his own, and at length quite evidently on 

 purpose. 



As was said, curiosity, which is always indicative of 



