Page:Dapples of the Circus (1943).pdf/211

 just another of the tragedies of the South American forest, which teems with life, and where the life-and-death struggle goes on ceaselessly.

It seemed to the weary, terrified boy that the daylight would never come. He felt sure, if the daylight did come, that these sounds of fights-to-the-death about him would cease, for it is in the night that most of the jungle-hunting is done.

At last, about daybreak, he fell asleep and dreamed he was back in the ring with Sir Wilton. For a wonder, Dapples was troubling him with his tricks. He continually got his signals mixed and did the wrong trick, which made the audience laugh. Freckles was so troubled about this that he awoke. He found the sun shining brightly. To his great joy he heard shouts along the shore not far distant. He answered, and started with all haste to make his way in the direction from which they had come.

In five minutes he had gained a small