“Where’s that fly? Where’s that fly?” roared Nero. For you see he thought the tickling tip of Tamba’s tail was a fly on his nose.
“What’s the matter here? What’s the trouble?” cried one of the circus men, as he ran into the animal tent, having heard Nero roar.
“Are some of the lions or tigers trying to get loose?” asked another man.
“No, it seems to be Nero,” replied the first. “What’s the matter, old boy?” he asked, as he saw how angry Nero was. For the lion was lashing his tail from side to side and roaring:
“Where’s that fly? Where’s that fly?”
Of course the circus men didn’t know exactly what Nero was saying, but they could tell he was angry, and they were afraid, if he bounded against the bars of his cage much more, he might break some.
“I don’t see what makes Nero act that way,” said the man who had charge of the lion, and who had taught him to do tricks. “Once before he acted like this, but it was when a bee stung him on the nose.”
“Maybe that is what happened this time,” said the second man.
“I don’t see any bees flying around,” went on the lion’s keeper. Just then Tamba, seeing that he had awakened Nero, and had played all the tricks he wanted to, pulled his tail out from between the bars of the lion’s cage. And, just as he did so, the keeper saw him.