TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 189 



The rain was nearly over. 



" What an occupation ! " said Leon; "What a life, to 

 be a tamer of wild beasts ! " 



"Truly," his cousin replied, "to have before one 

 every morning the prospect of finishing the day as a 

 snack in the stomach of a lion or the bowels of a tiger, 

 and never be able for five minutes to feel sure that one 



POLAE BEAE. 



is not partly eaten ! Faugh ! I should want to be 

 well paid if I were to accept such a position." 



" But they probably would not be anxious to take 

 you," said the doctor. " The very danger must have 

 some sort of fascination for these people, and keep them 

 to their wild beasts ; and the proof of this is that many 

 of them are quite able, if they wished it, to pursue a 

 less dangerous calling. 



