160 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LION TAMER 



had no further need for my services. Here was I turned 

 adrift again, and not much further advanced than when 

 I received the same treatment at the hands of my late 

 master the quack dentist. At Bordeaux I gained a liveli- 

 hood for a while by making and selling little balloons. 

 Then a naturalist took me with him to Havre, where I 

 found another menagerie, Planet's, in which I succeeded 

 in obtaining a berth. My new employers treated me well, 

 and I threw myself ardently, passionately, into the study 

 of my work, observing, reflecting, and laying the founda- 

 tions of my future career. Now that I felt my prospects 

 becoming more assured I ventured to let my thoughts 

 return to Maria, who, I felt x had become indispensable 

 to me. A fortunate chance bringing us with our re- 

 spective shows to the same place, I dared to tell my 

 secret to her, and to ask her to unite her lot to mine. 

 Her consent I readily obtained ; but her adopted parents 

 withheld theirs till I should have gained a position of 

 my own. I determined to conquer every obstacle in 

 order to win her. With this end in view, I thought 

 to introduce a new element into the profession ; 

 to become, in fact, not an exhibitor of tamed and 

 subdued animals, but a real tamer of the fierce and 

 unvanquished. By one means and another, therefore, I 

 contrived to become the possessor of a cargo of freshly 

 caught forest-bred animals, whose ferocity had hitherto 

 daunted the courage of the most audacious. I dared 

 them, I defied them, and I quelled them. It was a real 

 battle, that might at any moment end in slaughter. When 

 I entered the cages it was often doubtful if I would 

 ever come out alive ; and frequently I have heard sighs 

 of relief from the spectators when I emerged safe and 

 sound. The expenses were heavy, if it were for the keep 

 of the animals alone ; and often I have gone without 

 dinner myself in order that they might fare well ; it was 

 better so to do, for if I had put them on short commons 

 they might have avenged themselves by devouring me ! 



