“Good, Dido!” cried George. “Now what do you do when you meet an officer?”
Dido raised his other paw and touched his head, making what is called a salute, which soldiers always give their officers when they meet.
“Now march, Dido!” cried George, and as he played a marching tune on the brass horn Dido marched around, carrying the stick for a gun.
The people clapped their hands at that, and when the keeper passed around his hat many cents and some dimes jingled into it, to buy more buns for Dido, and other things for the keeper to eat.
“Make him do some more tricks, please,” begged a boy in the crowd. “I have another penny.”
“Ha! Very good!” cried George. “Dido, shall we do some more tricks for the little boy who has a penny?” Then George made believe whisper that question in Dido’s ear, and next the man pretended to put his ear down to Dido’s mouth as if to listen for an answer.
“Yes, Dido says he will do another trick for you,” said the man, laughing.
Of course Dido did not really speak to his trainer, for though a bear, a dog or other animals can understand much that is said to them they can not answer back. But the man just pretended Dido did answer so as to make a little fun, and the people laughed.
“Now, Dido, do your somersault trick,” said George. “All ready!”