Daniel Hawkins talked and threatened, but all to no purpose.
At last he agreed to take ten dollars and two tickets for the evening performance, and the bargain was settled on the spot.
It was not long after that that the steel-caged circus wagon came along, followed by a crowd of men and boys, all eager to see the strange sights connected with an escaped lion.
It was noised about that Leo Dunbar had captured the savage brute, and the boys gazed at the farm lad enviously.
“He’s a brave one, eh?” said one.
“I wouldn’t do it for a thousand dollars, would you?” added another.
“I always knew he was a cool one, and there isn’t a fellow around as limber as he is,” put in a third.
And so the talk ran.
When the lion was safe in the cage once more, Barton Reeve turned to Leo.
“Can you come with me to the circus grounds?” he asked. “I would like to talk with you.”