Page:Dapples of the Circus (1943).pdf/152

 have been a little later, but several people were getting a hurried lunch preparatory to seeing the circus. A waiter had just appeared with a tray containing several cups of hot coffee.

As the beast in his flight made straight for him, the waiter hurled the tray of hot coffee full upon the lion's back. With a howl of pain the frightened beast dashed under a table, upsetting it, and sending the dishes crashing to the floor. This seemed to add to his fright, for he came out from under the table and made for the cellar door, which happened to be open, another waiter having just brought up a consignment of ice-cream.

Down the narrow stairs the terrified beast fled, taking the flight at two bounds. The proprietor of the eating-room by this time appeared, and locked and bolted the cellar door, making the escaped lord of the jungle a captive. Then the two policemen came and stood guard at the door.

By this time a report had spread on the