But the 'poor dog' would look neither at the biscuit-box nor at the biscuit, only quietly at the young man's face. Antony laid the biscuit on the poor dog's nose. The poor dog did not even shake it off, so that Antony, half-ashamed, took it off again and even dusted the soiled part of the nose. 'I wonder if he thinks me a fool?' said Antony half-aloud. 'Of course, _I_ know I am; but how should a dog know it?' But, much to his relief, Wallace gave vent to a satisfied sort of a sigh at last, and sat up. Presently he put one enormous paw on Antony's knee, and from that moment friendship was established. 'Will you take the biscuit now, Wallace boy?' Wallace boy showed his condescension, and took it and two more, and two more after that. He licked Antony's knuckles with a soft, warm tongue, then asked to be let out. Down the steps he trotted, but was not gone three minutes before he returned, accompanied by a huge red-and-white cat. There was no shyness about puss. He took Antony for granted or at Wallace's recommendation, and rubbed his back against Antony's gaitered legs. Then, as the cat cared not for biscuits, but must have something, Antony opened a tin of sardines which he found among his stores. Perhaps they had belonged to the Duchess. Pussy liked them anyhow, and jumped on the sofa now to lick and wash his great paws, as cats always do when they've had anything greasy. Wallace wanted to get out again. 'I wonder,' said young Blake, 'if he is going to bring some more of his friends? Shouldn't be a bit surprised if he turned up with the merman.' It wasn't the merman he came back with, however. Only about five minutes after he had gone there was Wallace's sonorous voice, and Antony's glasses rang in the cupboard, so loud and strong was it. At the same moment there was the sound of the bagpipes, and once more Antony looked out. But he drew back quickly. For here, at his very door, was a huge bear on his hind-legs, wearing no muzzle, though he had fangs like fixed bayonets. He wore an artilleryman's pork-pie cap very much on one side, and had a very droll, half-drunken leer on his huge face. Skeleton stood by with the pipes. 'Gee hup!' he cried, and played. Then that huge brown bear began to dance, and evidently did so for fun and love. No torture had been applied to him, it appeared afterwards, to make him caper. But as soon as the music--well, the bagpipes--ceased, Bruin faced round towards the back-door and opened a mouth wide enough to have taken in a Dutch cheese. Antony threw all the rest of the sardines in, and all the biscuits; but as the red mouth was still open he went back to the cupboard and discovered a loaf of bread, and rammed that well home. Bruin gave a hoarse cough of satisfaction, and, lowering himself on all-fours, went shambling off. * * * * * The whole of the Queerest Show was surrounded by a rough kind of palisade just enough to