170 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LION TAMER 



was only awaiting his opportunity, the result proving 

 that I was not mistaken. 



This opportunity arrived one evening in October, 

 when, the directors of the Zoological Gardens in Paris 

 being present, I naturally was on my mettle, and wished 

 to let them see of what I was capable. Sultan 

 seemed to grasp the situation, and a repetition of the 

 former scene took place. This time, however, I was 

 prepared, and stood firm on my legs, not flinching under 

 his onslaught. It was a veritable combat, but I was the 

 stronger, and though armed with nothing but a whip, I 

 succeeded in forcing him, outwardly tamed, to obey me. 



Needless to say that from that day our relations 

 continued somewhat strained, and at every performance 

 I foresaw a fresh explosion. It required all my strength, 

 all my determination, to cope with his animosity, which 

 each day seemed to augment, and every time that I left 

 him I was worn out in mind and body from the sustained 

 efforts. 



At length my hour struck, though not in the way I 

 had anticipated. Suddenly I became aware that my 

 right cheek had lost all feeling, my upper lip was drawn 

 up, and my right eye glazed. The doctors were hastily 

 summoned, and pronounced me to be paralysed ! The 

 strain of my continued efforts had been too great, my 

 machinery was worn out, and I, so active, so greedy of 

 life and movement, was condemned to perpetual repose. 

 Farewell in future to all emotions and ovations ! farewell 

 to all the pleasure daily received from the applause of 

 the public ! 



No more should I appear among my animals, to lord 

 it over them, as of old ; in future I must be reduced to 

 the rank of simple spectator, condemned to watch others 

 perform feats taught them by me, and enact the?'d/el had 

 created for myself, and had filled with such signal success 

 throughout so many years. 



