AN APPRECIATIVE JUNGLE
alcalde and his friends could come in for a private inspection of the few animals now on hand, and the alcalde silenced all grumbling by telling the crowd that Don Tiberio was an honest man to refuse their money until he had his best to offer. Then Tib took up the passes and called me to stand guard while he harangued the mayor and a dozen men and women on the marvellous points of his collection.
"‘I can't see in the bloody thing,' growled the lion, as the party swept inside.
"‘Silence!' roared Tib to the king of beasts, in English. 'The villagers approach. 'Tis better to be a circus lion than a delver after table-salt, known only by a number. Remember that, my lad.' With this admonition he began to spiel to the jabbering, half-clothed jays in his unique Spanish.
"‘Fear them not, señors and señoritas. For though they rage and writhe in anger, they know their master's voice.—Look out, Burke, pull in your left leg!'—the last in English. 'They never dream of incurring my displeasure. Nero, here, your excellency, ate three men and two women before he was brought low in captivity, and has added a choice collection of thumbs and fingers to the total since then. The villagers near his wild, free home called him "Ah-Ghee-Dah," which being interpreted means, "He-Who-Eats-Men-Gladly." Growl, Murph. Ah, not so loud. Even a lion has
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