EECOLLECTIONS OF A LION TAMER 157 



burst my big drum, and I was again turned adrift on the 

 world, with no larger fortune than before. This time, 

 however, I had gained experience and credit ; by means 

 of the latter I bought a pedlar's pack, and, like my father 

 before me, started on my travels. 



These, however, did not last long, a woman who kept 

 a grocer's shop insisted on adopting me and taking me 

 into her business ; but I quickly wearied of that uncon- 

 genial occupation, and, thanks to my good looks, and to 

 my capacities as orator — acquired while with my late 

 master, the dentist — I was soon engaged as showman 

 in a travelling waxwork exhibition. My duties there were 

 light and easy, but the inactive life, in the midst of these 

 inanimate figures, was wearisome and monotonous to one 

 of my stirring nature. 



The only break in the sameness of my existence was 

 on Sundays, when a young and charming girl named 

 Maria, an orphan, spent the day with my master and his 

 family. As the weeks rolled on into months, and these 

 in turn succeeded each other, little by little we fell in 

 love, and when at last circumstances separated us we 

 found how indispensable we had become to each other. 

 What caused us to part was the arrival in the neighbour- 

 hood of Bernaleo's menagerie. It was a fine one, and the 

 animals it contained were not only numerous but for- 

 midable of aspect. All my old passion for wild beasts 

 instantly revived, and it was, at all events, an active, 

 stirring life, such as my nature required, I offered my 

 services, and these being promptly accepted, I thought I 

 had at last attained my desires. But no, I was not yet 

 satisfied. I soon found the animals to be so tamed, so 

 subdued, so docile, that there was no excitement, no risk in 

 going amongst them. They aroused themselves from their 

 sleep and went through their exercises so submissively, 

 so mechanically, that at times I had a mad desire to seize 

 them by the mane, and to cry out : ' Try to be fierce, 

 can't you ? ' 



