DOGS 263 



the arena as best he could, but not before he 

 had received some severe scratches and bites. 



For some time after this the lions were so 

 cross and bad tempered that their perform- 

 ances in the arena were stopped until they 

 got over it. While this period of bad temper 

 on the part of the lions lasted, Pluto was mis- 

 erable and depressed, growling and barking, 

 whining and howling, until his master and 

 the others in the show were at their wit's end 

 to know what to do with him. 



As soon as the lions quieted down and re- 

 sumed their normal condition, going nor- 

 mally through their performances again, 

 Pluto also quieted down and recovered his old 

 spirits once more. I can give no explanation 

 of this; I only know that it was so, and that 

 it always happened previous to some out- 

 break on the part of the lions. Naturally, in 

 time, his master disliked to see him in this 

 state, but could scarcely postpone his perform- 

 ance on that account. 



Before the last terrible accident when Cap- 

 tain Bonavita was nearly torn to pieces by 



