One of the other members of the company had secured the donkey and dogs. The little donkey was turned over to Hans again, with a warning not to let the creature get away. Ephraim recovered his horn and took his place in the band. The procession formed, the band struck up vigorously, minus the bass drum, and the “All-Star Combination” moved along the street as if nothing had happened.
In fact, this little affair of the escaping donkey and dogs was regarded as an incident that would serve to help advertise the show, and that was exactly what satisfied and pleased Barnaby Haley, owner and manager of the organization.
CHAPTER II.
FRANK AND HIS FRIENDS.
The band played two pieces in front of the Thalia Theater. The man who was handling the “fierce and untamed bloodhounds” skillfully succeeded in getting all three of them into a fight, appearing nearly frightened to death over it. The donkey walked into the midst of the dogs and separated them by taking the aggressor in his teeth and pulling him away, and Barnaby Haley was well satisfied with the advertising he would receive on account of all this.
Frank, looking on, understood that the same things happened in nearly every town visited by the company.
The donkey was to be taken into the theater by the stage entrance, but Hans found a chance to say to Frank:
“Shust vait here till dot theater comes oudt uf me. I vill peen righdt pack a minute in.”
Ephraim induced one of the musicians to take charge of his horn, and remained with Frank.
Hans soon reappeared.