WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



the zinc one which was hanging over the door outside. 

 The poor waiter was doubled up with laughter, at which 

 Franks got in a rage, but he was obliged to content 

 himself after all with the miniature lobsters. 



A GHOST-LIKE STORY. 



This is how it happened. Returning late one evening 

 from town, after all the family had gone to bed, and find- 

 ing everything quiet, I retired to my downy couch. How 

 long I had been asleep I am unable to say, but I can call 

 to mind a frightful noise that caused me to leave my bed 

 and listen. I very distinctly heard footsteps with a rust- 

 ling sound, something like moving paper, in the passage 

 below. Opening my bedroom door I went to the head of 

 the stairs, and asked " Who's there ? " Receiving no answer, 

 while at the same time I could still hear the soft footsteps, 

 I returned to my room, lighted a candle and charged my 

 revolver. The thought now came. Can it be one of the 

 family walking in his or her sleep ? Before, however, I had 

 time to determine what to do, I heard the rustling, together 

 with the footsteps, coming up-stairs. 



My determination what to do at that moment is rather 

 difficult to describe, but I kept perfectly quiet and listened 

 in great anxiety, as the object slowly walked up the passage 

 rustling against the door and wainscot. I was now per- 

 fectly certain that whatever it was I had a good chance of 

 finding out. Opening the door and with light in hand I 

 beheld at the end of the passage a large black vulture, 

 with its enormous wings spread out, the very picture of a 

 demon. How it came into the house was soon explained. 

 It happened that late in the evening, after the Gardens 

 were closed and the keepers had all left, a sailor brought 

 the bird from on board ship squeezed into a large sack, 



14 



