When they came back the keeper was leading Marshal Foch with a rope, and
the fly paper was gone from his head and his body. Harry Donnelle said
they melted the stickum with gasoline and that it didn’t hurt the
leopard much. He said it came off easier than a porous plaster does. You
bet I was glad; because that leopard and I were kind of friends. Anyway
I would have been glad. The keeper had a pistol but I guess it was just
safety first because the animal walked along by him just as meek as
could be and walked right up the slanting board into the wagon. I guess
he knew that keeper all right. His eyes were kind of half shut and all
sticky like, and his nice fur was all stuck up but the men said they
could fix him all right as soon as they had time.
I just couldn’t help saying, “So long, Marshal Foch, I’m sorry I had to
do it; see you later.” He just walked back and forth in the cage, awful
graceful, as if he was looking to see if everything was all right, and
maybe he was glad to get back, hey?
Then Mr. Costello said in his big loud voice, just as if he was making a
speech, “I am going to give the people of Kingston, _absolutely free_,
an opportunity to view for the first time in America, the dauntless
young hero of two continents.” I don’t know why he said two continents,
because I only live on one, and believe me, that’s enough.
But most everything he said had _two continents_ in it. Harry said it
was a wonder he forgot Mars and the Moon. “The dauntless young hero
scout, pride of two continents,” that’s what he said. Oh boy, didn’t I
blush! And didn’t Harry Donnelle laugh!
“May I ask your name, sir?” Mr. Costello said.
I told him, “Roy Blakeley.”
“I would like you to ride with Marshal Foch in the parade,” he said,
“and later at the performances. I think I will call you _Roy the
Redoubtable_; or perhaps _Blakeley the Bold_ would be better. This is an
opportunity of a lifetime to the people of Kingston. It will rejoice the
scouts of two continents to see their intrepid young hero riding in
triumph with the savage, man eating, beast that he subdued.”
Harry said, “That would be delightful. What do you say, Roy?”
I said, “_Good night_, I won’t have to ride in the cage with him, will
I? I like him all right, but—but we’re not—kind of, we’re not yet well
acquainted yet.”
Mr. Costello said, “You will ride on the seat outside, as his triumphant
conqueror. You will outrival the gladiators of ancient Rome. You will
listen to the plaudits of the multitude. Are you able to look fierce?
Just a little fiery? Just a little suggestion of fearless courage and
intrepid power in your eyes? Something like _this_.” Oh boy, he gave me
a look that nearly knocked me over.
Harry said, “Try it, Roy.”
I looked as fierce as I could, and all the fellows broke out laughing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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