“What was that?” demanded Lion.
“I—I was standing on my tail and—and went to sleep,” answered Kangaroo, in a very sheepish voice. “I—I fell down and bumped my head against Rhino’s cage.”
“And it was newly varnished but yesterday,” muttered Rhino.
Then Monkey giggled and that set Hyena to laughing until the tears rolled down his cheeks. Even Lion was obliged to smile though, a moment later, his face took on a very serious look.
“Perhaps we have waited long enough,” he admitted, rather sadly. “I fear something must have happened. What do you think, Diggeldy Dan?”
“I don’t know just what to say, Lion,” answered Dan. “You see, I was quite sure the Pretty Lady made her home in the west. It is all my fault. I am very sorry.”
“There, there,” said Lion, as he placed a paw on the old clown’s shoulder. “Surely, none of us would think of blaming you, Dan.”
“So come,” he called out to the rest, “let us go to the center of the tent; for we will watch no longer to-day.”
Once they knew they might leave their places, the animals were less eager to do so. For they suddenly realized how disappointed they were now that they were not to see the Pretty Lady with the Blue-Blue Eyes.
“Now,” began Lion, after all had been seated, and doing his best to speak gayly, “I suggest that we—”