“‘Fair cop,’ ses Ginger, who was still rubbing his leg. ‘I told you it would be, but there’s no need for Beauty to overdo it. He nearly ’ad a bit out o’ my leg.’ “‘A’right,’ ses the wild man, shifting along the ’earthrug to where Peter was sitting; ‘but it don’t do for me to be too tame. You ’eard wot she said.’ “‘How are you feeling, old man?’ ses Peter, in a kind voice, as ’e tucked ’is legs away under ’is chair. “‘Gurr,’ ses the wild man, going on all fours to the back of the chair, ‘gur—wug—wug——’ “‘Don’t play the fool, Beauty,’ ses Peter, with a uneasy smile, as he twisted ’is ’ead round. ‘Call ’im off, Sam.’ “‘Gurr,’ ses the wild man, sniffing at ’is legs; ‘gurr.’ “‘Easy on, Beauty, it’s no good biting ’im till they come back,’ ses old Sam. “‘I won’t be bit at all,’ ses Russet, very sharp, ‘mind that, Sam. It’s my belief Beauty’s gone mad.’ “‘Hush,’ ses Ginger, and they ’eard Ted Reddish and ’is wife coming back. They came in, sat down agin, and after Ted ’ad ’ad another good look at the wild man and prodded ’im all over an’ looked at ’is teeth, he spoke up and said they’d decided to give a ’undered pun for ’im at the end o’ three days if ’e suited. “‘I s’pose,’ ses Sam, looking at the others, ‘that we could ’ave a bit of it now to go on with?’ “‘It’s agin our way of doing business,’ ses Ted Reddish. ‘If it ’ud been a lion or a tiger we could, but wild men we never do.’ “‘The thing is,’ ses Mrs. Reddish, as the wild man started on Russet’s leg and was pulled off by Sam and Ginger, ‘where to put ’im.’ “‘Why not put ’im in with the black leopard?’ ses her ’usband. “‘There’s plenty o’ room in his cage,’ says ’is wife thoughtfully, ‘and it ’ud be company for ’im too.’ “‘I don’t think the wild man ’ud like that,’ ses Ginger. “‘I’m sartain sure ’e wouldn’t,’ says old Sam, shaking ’is ’ead. “‘Well, we must put ’im in a cage by hisself, I s’pose,’ ses Reddish, ‘but we can’t be put to much expense. I’m sure the money we spent in cat’s meat for the last wild man we ’ad was awful.’ “‘Don’t you spend too much money on cat’s meat for _’im_,’ ses Sam, ‘’e’d very likely leave it. Bringing ’im ’ome, we used to give ’im the same as we ’ad ourselves, and he got on all right.’ “‘It’s a wonder you didn’t kill ’im,’ ses Reddish, severely. ‘He’ll be fed very different ’ere, I can tell you. You won’t know ’im at the end o’ three days.’ “‘Don’t change ’im too sudden,’ ses Ginger, keeping ’is ’ead turned away from the wild man, wot wos trying to catch ’is eye. ‘Cook ’is food at fust, ’cos ’e’s been used to it.’ “‘I know wot to give ’im,’ ses Reddish, offhandedly. ‘I ain’t been in the line twenty-seven years for nothink. Bring ’im out to the back, an’ I’ll put ’im in ’is new ’ome.’ “They all got up and, taking no notice of the wild man’s whispers, follered Ted Reddish and ’is wife out to the back, where all the wild beasts in the world seemed to ’ave collected to roar out to each other what a beastly place it was.