A FEW HOOFED ANIMALS 173 



restored, the band played the air through 

 first, the trainer stood in front of him beat- 

 ing time with his stick and began singing. 



But instead of the donkey joining in, in his 

 Usual vociferous manner, no sound came from 

 him. Again and again his trainer began, and 

 again and again the band played over the 

 tune and then started afresh with a flourish. 

 The donkey stood there, calm and placid, 

 whisking his tail as he might in the summer 

 time when the flies were troublesome! It is 

 needless to speak of the chagrin and disap- 

 pointment of the vaudeville manager, or the 

 bitter disappointment and humiliation of the 

 trainer. There was nothing to be done but 

 to try and pacify the audience and, for days 

 afterwards, try to induce the donkey to give 

 his old performance. 



But it was all no use. He would do it in 

 his stable, but nowhere else, and the trainer 

 began to give up all hopes of his ever doing 

 it again. But as soon as the Circus season 

 began, Jack gave his best performance in the 

 Circus arena without the slightest hesitation. 



